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Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:37 PM PST

Dalglish more concerned about improving Liverpool rather than titles record

Friday, March 4th, 2011 13:27:00

LONDON: Kenny Dalglish (pic) insists stopping Manchester United from securing a record-breaking 19th title is less important than restoring Liverpool's fortunes.

However, he would take great satisfaction should they put a dent in United's pursuit of the title which would take them clear of their Merseyside rivals' tally.

Dalglish was the manager to bring the last of their 18 league championships — then Division One — to Anfield in 1990.

In the intervening years, United have assumed the dominance previously enjoyed by Liverpool in the previous two decades and such is the state of things it seems Alex Ferguson is certain to reach the landmark before his fellow Scot.

The teams clash for the third time this season at Anfield on Sunday with Liverpool having lost both previous encounters, in the league and FA Cup, by the odd goal at Old Trafford.

But Dalglish turned things around dramatically since taking over on Jan 9, coincidentally against United in the Cup, and last weekend's defeat at West Ham was their first in eight matches.

The visit of the Red Devils, who lost at Chelsea in midweek, presents a considerable challenge but Dalglish is not interested on what their archrivals are doing.

"We want to help ourselves first. If we help ourselves and it hinders somebody else then that's not our problem, that's theirs," said Dalglish, who turns 60 tomorrow.

"As we always say, you can control an awful lot of your own destiny and not someone else's. If we concentrate on ourselves and prepare as well as we can, then whatever eventualities come from that, fine.

"If we get a result on Sunday it is more helpful to us than it is harmful to them. It never does anyone any harm to win a game. Obviously the three points would be very welcome.

"What they would bring for ourselves and the future, we just don't know."

When Dalglish shocked the football world by walking out of Liverpool in 1991 he could not have imagined the title drought which would follow.

Of course, he won the Premier League when he returned to management with Blackburn but all the time United were gradually chipping away at Liverpool's record haul of 18.

"I never considered they would catch us," said Dalglish.

"I was concentrating on what I was supposed to do and that was to manage Blackburn.

"You never look too far ahead and I wasn't doing that then.

"To their credit they have won a fantastic amount of championships and it shows how successful they have been. I had my own competition with United when I was at Blackburn and then Newcastle. I never had any feelings."

It is obviously painful to Dalglish that the club where he reigned so gloriously as a player and manager has struggled to compete on a consistent basis in the league.

However, he did point to other areas where Liverpool still held the advantage over United.

"You take greater satisfaction from when your own team are successful and they've been more successful than Liverpool over the past 20 years," said Dalglish.

"But at the end of the day we've still got bits we can hang on to. We've still won five European Cups."

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Tricky task for Spurs at Molineux, says Redknapp

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:31 PM PST

Friday, March 4th, 2011 13:27:00

LONDON: Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is convinced Wolves will avoid relegation but hopes to put Mick McCarthy's side in deeper trouble when they meet at Molineux on Monday (12am).

Redknapp has called on his team to bounce back from their defeat against Blackpool by beating Wolves and AC Milan in what he admits will be one of the most crucial weeks in the club's season.

Just a week after registering a memorable 1-0 over Milan at San Siro, Spurs came tumbling back down to earth with a 3-1 defeat to Blackpool.

The defeat proved costly as Chelsea reclaimed fourth position by beating Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Spurs have been on a five-day warmweather training trip to Dubai in an attempt to raise their spirits ahead of Sunday's match and the second-leg of the Champions League last-16 clash with Milan three days later.

Redknapp, whose squad have been hampered by injuries recently, urged his players to draw a line under the Blackpool defeat by beating Wolves and securing a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

"We'd been playing so well (before Blackpool) and everything just went wrong on the night," said Redknapp on Spurs' website.

"We have to come back from that now.

"It's another big week for us. Wolves and then Milan, that's a massive game, one of the biggest games in the history of the club. We're preparing for those games now and hopefully it will be another good week for us.

"Molineux has always been a difficult place to go and win. They've already beaten United there, Manchester City, and Chelsea, so that underlines how tough it is.

"But we have to go and pick up a result."

Spurs would move back into fourth with a win — given that Chelsea do not play their game against Blackpool until the following day.

Wolves looked destined for relegation in the first half of the season but a recent upturn in form has seen the midlanders edge to within a point of safety.

Redknapp is sure Wolves will not go down.

"I've said all along that I don't think Wolves will go down, that's been my opinion for months. I think they are a good side and they will definitely stay up. I don't see them as a relegation team at all," he said.

Spurs could be without winger Gareth Bale again on Sunday as he continues his recovery from a back injury, while Ledley King (groin), Vedran Corluka (ankle), Younes Kaboul (knee), and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are all out.

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