KENNY CAN STAND OLD FOE FERGIE
KENNY DALGLISH admits he and Sir Alex Ferguson have always been friends – off the pitch.
Liverpool great Dalglish will have Anfield’s Centenary Stand renamed in his honour today on the eve of Manchester United’s Premier League visit.
One of the special guests will be one of Dalglish’s fiercest foes. Former United boss Ferguson and club legend Sir Bobby Charlton will be among the invited guests today.
As opposition managers Dalglish and Fergie fought it out between 1986 and 1991 and again in the 2011-2012 season, when the race row between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra erupted.
Ferguson was famously credited with the quote that he arrived to knock Liverpool off their perch when he joined United in 1986, but Dalglish claimed if his fellow Scot did say it, “it didn’t register”.
Problem
Dalglish said: “How can you criticise someone who is totally supportive of his club? That is what you want as a supporter, someone who is defensive of your club and wants to make a contribution.
“He made a massive contribution to Manchester United. Away from working, there has never been a problem with him, never.
“After the end of the game, there was never any animosity or dissent from either of us. There would always be a drink.
“His actions speak louder than a 1,000 words, him and Sir Bobby coming over.
“They did exactly the same after Hillsborough. They were over here early doors. There is rivalry on and off the pitch but ® when it comes to something like that, there’s not even a doubt about it.”
The club invited Dalglish to a meeting in Jurgen Klopp’s office to talk to the club’s owners.
The last time Dalglish was called in for a chat it was to sack him in 2012 and he joked he thought his role as non-executive director was in danger this time.
Instead, it was to honour his contribution to the club as a player and manager, but also his family’s charity work with the Marina Dalglish Centre set up after his wife battled breast cancer in 2003.
Dalglish said: “I thought I was getting the sack but it was a happy story this time.”
But as he prepares to welcome Ferguson today, Dalglish believes there will never be one club dominating like Liverpool did in the 1970s and 1980s or United did in the 1990s and 2000s.
“I don’t think any club will ever be that dominant,” he said.
“There are so many of them now that have access to finance that can help them out.”
SERGIO AGUERO could make a shock return for Manchester City tomorrow, just two weeks after breaking a rib in a car crash.
Boss Pep Guardiola is ready to give the striker until the last minute to prove his fitness after he returned to light training this week.
If he comes through today’s training session with no ill-effects, that will put him in the frame to face Stoke at the Etihad.
Aguero was injured in a smash in Amsterdam on September 28 on his way to the airport after a pop concert.
“I still do not know if I am going to play on Saturday,” Aguero (left) said. “On Wednesday, I