"WE SHOUD NOT BE EMBARRASSED TO BE SITTING UP THERE AT THE TOP
SIR KENNY DALGLISH reckons Jurgen Klopp deserves an Oscar if the Liverpool boss really is cracking up.
The club’s greatest ever player insists the German is showing no signs of feeling the heat as the Premier League title fight reaches boiling point.
That’s despite wasting the chance to go seven points clear at the top to drop into second on goal difference in less than week.
Back-to-back draws have allowed Manchester City to regain top spot and given renewed hope to Tottenham in third.
But even though City fans left Goodison Park on Wednesday night singing ‘Jurgen’s cracking up’, Dalglish insists he is still playing it cool.
“He must be up for an Academy Award then because I’ve not seen it,” said the eight time title winner.
“He must be in for an Oscar – when are they due? He’s been brilliant.
“For the players he has been fantastic because he shares and educates everything with them.
“For the punters he shares everything that they get – he shares the enjoyment and the disappointment.
“For us Jurgen is the best person that could possibly be there because he relates to everybody at the club.”
Dalglish was the man in the dugout when Liverpool last won the league title in 1990.
He believes nerves are not a problem when pushing for silverware but he urged the fans to still create a special atmosphere to push the team on.
The Scot said: “I think it’s normal to feel nervous, it’s anticipation.
“We shouldn’t be embarrassed to be sitting up there. Fear the worst? What’s the worst? Jesus Christ, the worst is relegation, I would imagine.
“I don’t care what stage of the season it is, if you are concentrating on playing a game, you are going to be a bit nervous.
“Nerves are part and parcel of football. They aren’t something you should worry about.
“It’s been 29 years since we won a league title. That’s a generation and a half nearly – a long wait.
“If the fans are a wee bit nervous then you can understand it but that doesn’t stop them cheering the boys on.”
Dalglish knows a thing or two about title run-ins and reckons the psychological mind game will come into play as they head towards the finish line.
There has been talk that City are stronger than Liverpool owing to their squad depth and the fact they’re the defending champions. Dalglish said: “Well, it’s not a weight lifting contest is it? It’s about what happens on the pitch.”
Despite his title-winning experience, the Liverpool legend – who was knighted in November – does not believe Klopp will need his help to get the Reds over the line. He added: “If someone asks anything when you’re sitting having a cup of tea with them, you’re going to make an answer. “But I’m a dinosaur, he’s not going to come and ask me. I don’t think I’d be fit anyway!”