Source: PA
Dalglish: I'm ready for United
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will be better prepared for his second meeting with Manchester United in two months than he was back in January.
The Reds conceded a first-minute penalty and had Steven Gerrard sent off after half an hour in the 1-0 FA Cup third round exit. Dalglish walked out of the Old Trafford tunnel on January 9 less than 24 hours after stepping off a long-haul flight having cut short a cruise holiday in the Persian Gulf to take over from Roy Hodgson.
His predecessor had been sacked the previous evening and Dalglish only got to speak to the players at 10am on the morning of the game. The Scot inherited a side in disarray, 12th in the table and only four points off the relegation zone.
In two months he has produced a remarkable turnaround and Liverpool are now in a much healthier sixth position with last Sunday's defeat at West Ham their first in eight matches. And with United having lost at Chelsea in midweek and suffering defensive problems with injuries and suspension, it appears the north-west arch-rivals meet at Anfield on Sunday on a more level playing field.
Dalglish has had all week to work with his players ahead of the visit of the Barclays Premier League leaders, who are looking to go past Liverpool's haul of 18 titles this season.
"I never had any time (ahead of their FA Cup meeting). I was in transit but the lads had been well prepared here," said the Scot. "But obviously that went out the window a little bit in the first minute when they got a penalty and Steven got sent off. You can prepare as much as you want but you can't prepare for things like that."
