Dalglish calls for calm as Pool problems laid bare

As he surveyed the wreckage of Liverpool’s latest disastrous defeat in a rapidly unravelling campaign, Kenny Dalglish felt the need to issue a much-needed call for calm.

Like his players in the wake of a comprehensive 2-0 defeat to an upwardly-mobile Newcastle, the increasingly beleaguered manager had a day to forget. The Scot was on the receiving end of a foul-mouthed Andy Carroll tirade after hauling the ineffectual forward off on a humiliating return to Tyneside for the £35m misfit. That, however, was perhaps the least of the Scot’s worries as the problems his side face were laid bare in an at times shambolic display.

On other occasions laughable, Liverpool ended the game with 10 men and the bizarre spectacle of full-back Jose Enrique in goal after Pepe Reina saw red for aiming a headbutt at James Perch — Dalglish marching onto the pitch to remonstrate with referee Martin Atkinson as the Spanish keeper offered Perch a spot of afters down the tunnel for his over-theatrical reaction.