Kenny’s crew in cruise control

THAT Gulf cruise Kenny Dalglish interrupted to answer an Anfield SOS must seem an awful long time ago even though the Liverpool manager was able to mark his first anniversary with a comprehensive win.

The fall out from the Luis Suarez race row and the defeat to leaders Manchester City have made for a testing few days for Dalglish.

But at least victory over Oldham ensured he avoided the fate suffered by Rafa Benitez and Roy Hodgson, who both suffered embarrassing cup exits at the hands of lower league opponents.

It was about this time last year that Dalglish was enjoying a family cruise when the call came through asking him to take over for a second time following Roy Hodgson’s dismissal. Liverpool were 12th in the table after a dreadful 3-1 defeat at Blackburn and the club were about to face Manchester United in an FA Cup third round tie at Old Trafford.

Fast forward 12 months and Liverpool are heading in the right direction again, although there is still much restoration work to be done.

They are sixth in the table, within three points of a Champions League spot, and have a two-legged Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester City to look forward to.

This was Liverpool’s 25th win in all competitions since Dalglish returned and although it was against a team from the third-tier, there were positives to be gleaned.

Steven Gerrard, who lasted 32 minutes 12 months ago in Dalglish’s first game back, emerged unscathed from his first start for three months while substitute Andy Carroll also managed to get his name on the score-sheet in the four minutes he was on the pitch.

With Liverpool back at Manchester City next Wednesday in the League Cup, Uruguay defender Sebastian Coates partnered Jamie Carragher in the centre of defence.

Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio also made his first outing of the campaign and Liverpool’s rusty defenders found the going tough as Oldham, cheered on by 6,200 travelling fans, made the better start.

Shefki Kuqi, Oldham’s highest-profile player, found himself clean through in the 10th minute after getting the better of Coates and Carragher, but the former Blackburn and Newcastle striker could only fire into the side netting.

It should have served as a wake up call but four minutes later Tom Adeyemi, unmarked and eight-yards from goal, headed another great chance wide.

Apart from a couple of attempts from Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy, Liverpool’s fringe players were subdued and it was no surprise when the team 52 places below their Premier League opponents stunned Anfield by taking a 28th minute lead, Simpson beat Pepe Reina with a dipping half-volley from 25-yards in front of the Kop.

But their lead lasted no more than two minutes after Dalglish’s team equalised following a touch of fortune.

Jonjo Shelvey’s tame effort was heading straight to keeper Alex Cisak when it struck Bellamy in the chest and deflected into the corner.

Finally, Liverpool awoke from their slumber.

Maxi Rodriguez was denied by a fine Cisak save in the 34th minute before the hosts took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Gerrard tucked home a penalty for his third goal of the campaign before Adeyemi went agonisingly close to equalising for the impressive visitors.

But 19-year-old Shelvey finally put the tie out of Oldham’s reach after connecting with Bellamy’s low cross in the 68th minute — his first goal for the club.

Carroll, who has been criticised for his lack of goals, scored in the final minute before Stewart Downing, another substitute, made it 5-1 in stoppage time from close range.

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina 6, Kelly 7, Carragher 6, Coates 6, Aurelio 6 (Flanagan 71, 5), Gerrard 7, Spearing 6, Rodriguez 7, Shelvey 7, Bellamy 8 9Downing 74, 6), Kuyt 6 (Carroll 87, 6).

OLDHAM (4-4-2): Cisak 6, Lee 6, Diamond 6, Mvoto 6, Taylor 6, Adeyemi 6, Wesolowski 6 (Morais 74, 5), Furman 6, Scapuzzi 6 (Parker 54, 5), Simpson 7 (Smith 74, 4), Kuqi 6. Substitutes not used: Bouzanis, Tarkowski, Black, Parker, Mancini.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick 6.