Kenny wants answers

KENNY DALGLISH described Liverpool's bid for European football next season as a "fairytale" too far, following Spurs' 2-0 win at Anfield yesterday.

But the Reds boss was also clearly unhappy at the role played in Spurs' biggest ever victory at Anfield by referee Howard Webb - and he reiterated calls for match officials to publicly explain contentious decisions.

The man who officiated in last summer's World Cup final awarded a hugely controversial penalty kick after John Flanagan and Steven Pienaar challenged shoulder to shoulder.

The incident also appeared to be outside the penalty area, but Dalglish was mindful not to incur a disrepute charge when he delivered his assessment of the decisive moment which gave Spurs a 2-0 lead.

"I'm not here to sponsor the FA," said Dalglish.

"It is unhelpful to everyone that we cannot express our true thoughts and it is even more disappointing that the officials get away scot-free without having to come in and explain their decisions.

"I think it is safer for me to leave it at that.

"We cannot legislate for refereeing mistakes but we could have been a greater help to ourselves if we had started the game better."

Victory gave Spurs the advantage in the race for the final Europa League place as they now have a point advantage over the Reds with a match remaining.

"They started better than we did and scored a goal and we didn't start to play for 25 minutes," Dalglish added.

"We started to look a bit better and then at the start of the second half they got the second goal and that gave them a real foothold and we didn't have enough to break them down.

"I don't think Pepe Reina was over-busy either but we never played as well as we can play.

"That is a disappointment for the players because it would have been a fitting way to finish the season at Anfield for the efforts they've put in since January - maybe it was too much of a fairytale.

"We don't know why we didn't start as well as what we have done and are capable of, but I suppose like in everything else, you get days like that."

Record signing Andy Carroll was recalled to the starting line-up after Raul Meireles failed to recover from the injury he picked up at Fulham on Monday, but Dalglish believed it was a difference in attitude rather than a change of playing style which impacted more on the result.

"Whoever is going to play, it doesn't affect anybody's approach or attitude to the game - you go into the game, you start nice and sharp and on you go," he added

"He (Carroll) hasn't trained as much as he or we would have liked. We were forced into playing him a wee bit because David Ngog had only had 45 minutes in a reserve game, so it was either him or Andy. For Andy to last as long as he did was more than we expected.

"I don't think a change in the way you play should contribute to changes in attitude and approach to the game. We never approached it well enough in the first half and paid the price for that."

Dalglish's first home defeat since returning in January has now put Spurs in pole position to secure European football next season.

"It was a big win for us," said Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. "We had to win today to try to finish above Liverpool and we have given ourselves a chance.

"We now have a tough game against Birmingham, who need a result after today.

"We are not fighting for the Europa League, we are fighting to finish fifth.

"You want to win every game and finish as high as you can, that is your pride.

"It is not ideal playing Thursday and every Sunday (in the Europa League) is not what you want but we are there at the moment.

"That is better than qualifying via the Fair Play League because you start three weeks earlier.

"I scared them before the game by saying if we don't win today we are top of the Fair Play League, which means we come back in two weeks' time and start playing - they thought I was joking.

"That is going to be a nightmare for someone, I just hope it isn't us."

As it was the final home game of 2010-11, Dalglish led the Liverpool squad and staff on the traditional post-game lap of honour.

The Kop afforded them a generous reception despite the disappointment at the result and Dalglish added: "We feel as though we've short-changed them by not getting the result.

"That's the disappointing thing. The appreciation will always be here for their support, so sometimes it's nice to reward that with a victory and it was unfortunate we couldn't do that today."

Source: Liverpool Echo

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