Dalglish - 'Downing better than I thought'

KENNY DALGLISH has defended Stewart Downing, describing him as a better player than he envisaged when paying €24 million to sign the England international from Aston Villa, despite the winger’s subdued start to his Liverpool career.

Downing has yet to score or create one league goal for Liverpool since his big money move from Villa, although he did register his first goal for the club in the FA Cup third-round win over Oldham Athletic.

The growing criticism of the 27-year-old’s performances has prompted Dalglish again to defend his summer signing. Dalglish believes Downing is still adjusting to life at a higher-profile club and that it has been unfair to play the former Middlesbrough and Villa winger in several positions during his debut season at Anfield.

“Stewart is a better player than I thought he was going to be,” he said. “I don’t think it has been too comfortable for him either because we have played him in three or four positions, so maybe we need to look at ourselves and say we have to be fair to him as well. He is better than what I thought he was. He is a better footballer, he is quicker than what I thought he was and he is quicker than Carra [Jamie Carragher] thought he was as well.”

Downing was replaced by Andy Carroll during Liverpool’s dour goalless draw against Stoke City last weekend as Dalglish persisted with three central defenders against Peter Crouch and changed the formation further forward.

The pair have started only 11 games together for Liverpool this season. Dalglish added: “You have to be patient with every new player who comes in. You have to be patient with the older ones at times as well, like we did with Stevie [Gerrard] coming back. . . .”

The woodwork has denied Downing a first league goal for Liverpool four times this season while poor finishing from team-mates also accounts for his lack of assists. Dalglish agrees the midfielder has still to adapt to the transition from Villa Park to Anfield.

“Stewart is a fantastic footballer,” he added. “He is an England international, he made a big move in the summer to come here, as a few of them did . . . it is a massive club.

“He is going to need a little bit of time to get used to his new surroundings, which is only natural. He’s put more crosses in than anybody else according to the stats . . .

“It is another part of his job to put them in somewhere where we are going to score goals and it is another job for the team to get in there and put them in the back of the net.”

Liverpool face Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok this evening and Dalglish has questioned the wisdom of Bolton’s decision to sell Gary Cahill for €8.4 million to Chelsea as they fight to stay in the Premier League. “It has been difficult for Owen Coyle and Bolton this year but I am sure they will buckle down and get themselves out of the mire.

“Although financially it might have been a good deal for Gary Cahill, I don’t know whether it was the best one as a football decision for Owen, unless he has got someone lined up to replace him.”