It's Kenny's team: Liverpool success proving Dalglish right says former ... - Mirror.co.uk

Steve Clarke believes Liverpool are now the form side in the Premier League – thanks to Kenny Dalglish's signings.

West Brom boss Clarke was Dalglish's assistant at Anfield from January 2011 until last summer.

They got the bullet despite winning the League Cup and losing the FA Cup Final to Chelsea.

They were sacked by the Reds' American owners for coming eighth in the Premier League – 37 points behind champions Manchester City.

Their £70million spending spree on Jordan  Henderson, Stewart Downing, Jose Enrique and Andy Carroll was also heavily criticised.

Striker Carroll was bombed out on loan to West Ham this season.

But Luis Suarez was an instant success at Liverpool and has added a further 22 goals this term. And the recent fine form of Henderson, Downing and Enrique has helped Liverpool lose just once in seven League games.

Clarke insisted ahead of Albion's trip to Anfield tonight: "I am not surprised at all.

"Some of the more experienced ones that Kenny signed, it can take a period of time for players to settle into a club the size of Liverpool.

"Luis Suarez has really settled in the club. But now Stewart Downing is in the team and Jordan and Jose Enrique are doing really well.

"You can see the team is now starting to gel. At this stage Liverpool are probably playing the best football in the Premier League.

"They had a difficult start but they have picked up and now they are doing really well." Current boss Brendan Rodgers is trying to get Liverpool to play more passing football.

But Clarke added: "Brendan went in there with what people said was a different philosophy to Kenny.

"I think Liverpool have always played good football though. They always try to play good football, they did that under Kenny."

Clarke and Dalglish expected to remain in charge this season but were ruthlessly axed.

Clarke said: "We had two cup final appearances. One was victorious, one was a defeat. Fans enjoy the big occasions and when you are at a big club like Liverpool you should be competing for all the big honours."