Times change for Kenny

Kenny Dalglish appreciates much has changed since he last managed Liverpool, including, by his own admission, the length of his trousers and the quality of his eyesight.

Yet the trademark way Dalglish celebrates goals - wide grin, both arms raised aloft with fingers outstretched - and his core beliefs about the club he loves have not altered in the slightest over the last 20 years.

After overseeing his first Liverpool victory in his second spell in charge at Anfield, Dalglish spoke about how satisfying it was to be "back in the Liverpool way". That phrase, to Dalglish, encompasses everything from winning matches, to the club conducting its business "behind closed doors" and the players "standing beside each other" on the pitch. "I know it's a different era than it was before. But the principles are the same," he said.

Dalglish may have further cheer this week with Damien Comolli, the club's director of football strategy, due in Amsterdam today to discuss the pursuit of Luis Suárez with Ajax.

This was a restorative afternoon for Liverpool in so many ways. As well as rejoicing at the sight of a rare Liverpool away win, the travelling supporters were treated to a Fernando Torres double away from home for the first time in 16 months and a wonder strike from Raul Meireles that embellished a fine performance from the Portugal international.

Dalglish, however, took greatest pleasure from the collective response from a group of players whose confidence has been battered this season.

"I said when I came in, for the players to have the same belief in themselves that other people have. And it's difficult when you're repeatedly knocked down but it's great credit to them that they've worked really hard since we came in.

"This game was great evidence that everybody is going to stick together and be supportive of each other and do what their respective responsibilities are to get the best results we can."

It was also evidence of a much more attacking Liverpool approach away from home with Dalglish at the helm.

Torres reaped the rewards as Liverpool broke in numbers to support the Spaniard and punish an abject Wolves side who are heading back to the Championship on this form. Meireles was particularly impressive as he set up Torres's first, after running on to Christian Poulsen's pass, before thumping a sumptuous volley over Wayne Hennessey for Liverpool's second.

Although Meireles was Roy Hodgson's signing, it has taken the arrival of Dalglish to liberate the midfielder.

After 17 Premier League games and 33 shots without scoring, he now has two goals in as many matches. The only conundrum for Dalglish is where he will play Meireles, who has looked much improved in a central attacking midfield role, when Steven Gerrard is back from suspension for Fulham's visit on Wednesday.

The feelgood factor is returning at Liverpool with Dalglish in charge, and this was unquestionably a step in the right direction, yet the reality is that it will need much more than a victory over a listless Wolves side before any wider conclusions can be drawn.

Wolves accelerated Hodgson's departure when they won 1-0 at Anfield last month but they never looked like repeating that result on Saturday as they struggled in every department.

"Things change when a new manager comes in and credit to Liverpool, they've come down and been a lot better than when we won at Anfield," said Stephen Ward.

"The second goal came at a vital time and shows the quality that they have. You can't legislate for that sort of quality - sticking it in the top corner from 25 yards. We never wrote them off before the game and you can see why from how they played and the players that they have."

It was alarming to see Wolves punt so many balls from back to front as they ran out of ideas as to how to penetrate a Liverpool defence who had failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous seven matches.

The one silver lining was Adam Hammill's debut. Hammill, a former Liverpool academy graduate who was signed from Barnsley in the week, played with wit and imagination during his 17-minute cameo and could have pulled a goal back.

The enduring image at Molineux, however, was the Liverpool manager celebrating with that iconic pose we have seen so many times before.

"I used to wear shorter trousers [in the past]," said Dalglish, who laughed off suggestions nothing has changed by also pointing out he needs contact lenses now. "If you can't enjoy somebody scoring a goal for you, then you shouldn't be standing there. It's not an act. It's just spontaneous."

Source: The Guardian

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.