Kenny in the dock

LIVERPOOL’S owners will demand answers from Kenny Dalglish when they conduct a major strategic review on how to take the club forward. There is no suggestion Dalglish’s position is under immediate threat even though Liverpool have suffered six defeats in their last seven Barclays Premier League games — their worst run since 1953. However, Fenway Sports Group will launch a thorough investigation into why the Carling Cup winners have underachieved so badly in the league. Principal owner John W Henry said last August that it would be a ‘major disappointment’ if Liverpool failed to finish in the top four and, as a result, Dalglish will be asked to participate in this summer’s review and provide answers as to why his squad

From Back Page are so far from that goal. Liverpool invested £113million on nine new players last year and — with the exceptions of Luis Suarez and Craig Bellamy — all have disappointed, most notably Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam. Liverpool could still win the FA Cup and the Carling Cup and, if that happens, their campaign would be judged a success. But another campaign of erratic results in the Premier League would not be tolerated and FSG — who are unlikely to invest as much cash as they did last summer — will want to know how fortunes can be turned around. Dalglish’s former team-mate Mark Lawrenson does not think the manager will be sacked and rules out the prospect of him quitting. He said: ‘I don’t think he’d walk away. I don’t believe he’ll be sacked. It’s a poor run. But he will be fine.’