'Kenny can help Torres fire'

Jamie Carragher believes the appointment of Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool boss has already had a galvanising impact on the form of Fernando Torres.

Related Links

• Buy Carragher Shirt
• Carragher Videos
• Watch Carragher in style

The Spain striker capped an encouraging display against Blackpool in midweek with a well-taken goal, and Carragher feels Dalglish's influence on the Melwood training pitches may well have had a part to play.

"Against Blackpool he got the goal and there was a big difference in his performance," said the Reds vice-captain.

"He was chasing down, he brought a couple of balls down, played a great ball through for Dirk Kuyt early in the first half and it looked as though there were signs he was coming back.

"Hopefully that's credit to the manager as well for whatever he's been doing on the training pitch or maybe chatting to him.

"There was a definite difference. I was at the game myself and saw the full game and it was like looking at the old Torres."

It's a week since Dalglish was restored to the Liverpool helm following the departure of Roy Hodgson by mutual consent.

Carragher admits he's delighted to see the iconic Scot back in the hot seat and feels his return has created a buzz around the club.

Now he's hoping the Reds can transfer that positivity onto the pitch in Sunday's Merseyside derby showdown with Everton at Anfield.

"The whole of Liverpool got a massive lift with the news Kenny was taking over," said Carra. "It was unfortunate for Roy who was there before him, I got on quite well with him, and unfortunate for myself because I haven't been involved on the training pitch with the manager to see if there are different ideas or training.

"But the whole city and everybody you speak to has just had a massive lift, especially myself and Stevie (Gerrard).

"Kenny is a hero for us - not just now as our manager, but before being around the club as we were kids growing up. It's massive for us two and I'm sure the foreign players will work out what he means to the supporters when the teams come out at the weekend."

Carragher will miss the clash with Everton as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

The defender remains on course for a first-team return next month, though he admits it's been frustrating watching recent events from the sidelines.

He said: "The injury is okay. It was originally three months (out) they were saying, so I'm looking to be back at the start of February hopefully if it goes well in the next couple of weeks.

"It has been frustrating. I don't miss many games, fortunately, due to injury. It has been tough and also with the results not going well, missing Kenny's comeback and then the game on Sunday at Anfield is a massive game and one that I'd love to have been involved in.

"Not just because it's a derby game, but also because it's King Kenny's comeback. It's a bad one to miss for me."