Dalglish Accepts The Size Of The Challenge

The Scot enjoyed a hugely successful career as a player at Anfield and continued that into his first spell in charge as Reds boss.

One of the most damning statistics which highlights the decline of a club so dominant at home and abroad from the late 1970s through to the late 1980s is that Dalglish is the last Liverpool manager to win the league championship 22 years ago.

Since then Manchester United have taken their place at the top of English football and, with Manchester City having flexed their considerable financial muscle to become genuine title contenders and Tottenham adding their name to the so-called `big four` Liverpool's - and Dalglish's task - has become even tougher.

They have not helped themselves this season as, just when it looked as though they were well poised to make a late run for Champions League qualification, having missed out the last two seasons, results have collapsed.

The Reds are now eighth in the table, enduring their worst run of form since 1953, and are 16 points adrift of fourth place, with the relegation zone (12 points) closer.

"It is always difficult to get back to where they were because they were so high up," admitted Dalglish.

"But it (the method for success) has not changed too much really - it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of effort.

"We have good players who can get there but you need confidence and belief in yourself and you need a bit of luck.

"We can work as hard as we possibly can and if we do our side of it then at least we can look at ourselves and say we had a right go at it.

"At every football club it is [about] hard work but I can't believe how hard work is a bonus for people.

"I think that was taken as given that you work hard; so for us we'll work hard because you get nothing if you don't.

"These lads are genuine and honest and they have worked really hard to get any success they have had.

"We just have to keep on going and believing and try to keep our confidence up that the hard work will be rewarded eventually."

Morale within the squad has taken a knock after six defeats in seven league matches as the expected uplift from their Carling Cup victory in February has failed to materialise.

With confidence visibly ebbing away with every loss, the players will find themselves tested at home to Aston Villa tomorrow as ever-present goalkeeper Jose Reina begins a three-match suspension after his red card at Newcastle on Sunday.

The Spain international, who has missed only eight league games in his seven seasons at Anfield, had played 183 successive Premier League matches.

He is likely to be replaced by Doni, the summer signing from Roma who will be making his competitive debut having played 57 minutes of an October friendly against Rangers before dislocating a finger.

The Brazilian has been an unused substitute for every fixture this season and Dalglish accepts it may be hard for the 32-year-old to slot straight in, although he has every faith in Reina's deputy.

"Someone said to me it is easier for a goalkeeper to come in than an outfield player but I think it is difficult for anyone to come in who has not played for a while," said the Reds boss.

"Especially when, if it is Doni coming in to make his debut, he has not played with the lads in front of him before.

"It will be difficult for him but it is difficult for everyone.

"We do have to make a change and he has worked really hard in training.

"He's played in Serie A so he has a lot of experience and he has been excellent in the way he has improved and got used to things here.

"He has a better command on the language now and he has been patient but has been unfortunate he has such a good goalkeeper in front of him."