Dalglish confident of beating injury hoodoo

Kenny Dalglish believes he has a squad strong enough to cope with the recent run of injuries which have struck Liverpool's key players.

Captain Steven Gerrard was the latest to be affected after he was ruled out for a month having undergone surgery on a troublesome groin problem on Thursday.

He joins defenders Martin Kelly and Fabio Aurelio, both out for four weeks with hamstring tears, on the sidelines where centre-back Daniel Agger and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey are both recovering from knee injuries, although the latter is not expected back until late April after surgery.

On a positive front, record signing Andy Carroll has made his successful return from a thigh problem to make two substitute appearances in the last eight days.

The depth of the squad has been tested with Liverpool's involvement in the Europa League and although the stand-ins have not always impressed - Thursday's 1-0 first-leg defeat in Braga a case in point - Dalglish recognises the importance of calling on those fringe players.

"Everyone in the squad is capable of playing in the first team," he said.

"Those that haven't played as much are very important to us and their attitude in the games they have played in the past has been superb.

"We wouldn't expect any less, although we don't take it for granted.

"When you look to a club and try to get success, the strength of what lies behind (the first team) and their application when they do get an opportunity is the important thing."

With no FA Cup involvement Dalglish has a clear week to prepare for the return leg against Braga on Thursday.

Anfield has been their stronghold in Europe this season - compared to away games where they have scored just once in five - as Liverpool have won three and drawn one.

However, the performance in Braga, until the substitute appearance of Carroll, highlighted Liverpool's lack of a cutting edge up front.

Dalglish has been hampered somewhat by the fact he can play January signing Luis Suarez in the league, where he has been a revelation, but not in Europe as the Uruguay international is ineligible because of former club Ajax's involvement in the same competition.

The Scot remains pragmatic over that situation, adding: "We would much rather have Luis playing in the Europa League but then we would much rather have him for a long-term contract than just for three months.

"We are happy he is at the club and we just need to wait."

Although injuries are a problem for Liverpool they have at least come at the right time in terms of Premier League matches which are affected.

"We have got one or two problems but with only two league games in March, certainly from a league point of view, it gives a lot of those niggles a chance to clear up," said the 60-year-old. "We just have to go with what we have got, we cannot do anything about that. The players we put in there are well capable of doing themselves justice."

Source: Daily Post

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