The 59-year-old won the European Cup three times in seven years in an era when the Reds dominated both at home and abroad.

However, the ban imposed on English clubs after the Heysel Stadium disaster robbed him of the chance to extend that tally as a manager, having taken over from Joe Fagan after that fateful night in 1985.

He did eventually get to take sides into Europe when the exclusion was lifted, but Blackburn and Newcastle were nowhere close to being on the same level as the all-conquering team Dalglish played in.

That was reflected in his results, with just three wins and three draws in 12 games.

So 9,393 days after his first spell in the Anfield dugout began, Dalglish prepares to take charge of the Reds in Europe for the first time when they face Sparta Prague in the last 32 of the Europa League.

"It is not the first time I should have qualified," he said. "The reason why I never managed [Liverpool in Europe] before was because the government, through FIFA, decided to ban us.

"We could have been up there challenging but we could only do what we were allowed to do and play in the competitions we were allowed to.

"We had some fantastic success and it was great credit to everyone involved then. Europe wasn't to be.

"Whether we'd have done well in Europe is hypothetical. People would discuss it but it was irrelevant.

"We just got on with it and in a way it helped us. Maybe if we'd have been involved in Europe we'd have tripped up in a few more games. That could have jeopardised our success.

"It is a great honour for me to be involved with Liverpool, irrespective of the competition, but to be involved in Europe gives that extra little plus."

Liverpool head into the first leg with an unbeaten record in Europe this season, achieved under former manager Roy Hodgson.

Dalglish was keen to pay tribute to that success, but insists they have to build on it.

"It is now up to us to carry on the good work which was done by Roy and the players to get us this far," he said.

"The competition we are involved in only seems to be unimportant to people who are not involved in it.

"How do you define important? It is important because it is the next game. We will be doing our best to get the results everyone wants."

Sparta have not played a competitive match since November as the Czech League closed down for their winter break, but Dalglish will not underestimate their hosts.

"They haven't played too many games. We've seen them play several times on tape so we know roughly what we are up against," the Scot added.

"We don't know how it is going to affect them, not having played for two and a half months in a competitive game.

"We know Sparta are a good side but we are not here to be pessimistic."

Liverpool have travelled without Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger (both recovering from injuries) and Christian Poulsen, whose wife is expecting a baby.

Dalglish has included youth team quintet John Flanagan, Conor Coady, Jack Robinson, Tom Ince and Raheem Sterling, the latter of whom would become the club's youngest player at the age of 16 years and 71 days if he were to feature tomorrow.

Club record signing Andy Carroll has also travelled to Prague but his involvement will purely be on a training and integration basis as he continues his recovery from a thigh problem.