Kenny Dalglish thrilled with Liverpool progress

Kenny Dalglish has declared his delight at Liverpool’s progress this season – and insists the Reds do not to need to strengthen their squad before the January transfer window slams shut on Tuesday.

Liverpool will face Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final at Wembley on 26 February after a 3-2 aggregate win over Manchester City last week.

And Dirk Kuyt’s dramatic 87th-minute winner helped the Merseysiders seal a 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup and set up fifth-round clash with Brighton at Anfield.

“We said many times when the window was shut that we were pleased with the strength of the squad. This is an endorsement of what we were saying three or four months ago,” Dalglish said.

“We’re happy with them. They’ve done a lot of good work. We are still a work in progress, but we are making progress and that’s the main thing. The progress has been shown over the last week.

“It’s been a transitional period with seven new guys coming in and most of them finished up on the pitch in those two cup games.

“To come out on top in both games will have done the boys who haven’t experienced that before a world of good. It’s certainly put smiles on the players’ faces. It’s given them the confidence to know they can compete which is important.

“After a bad result at Bolton, they picked themselves up and it’s been a great education. The good thing is we don’t dwell on the victories and we aren’t going to hang ourselves after a defeat. We learn from every game we play, and the longer the players are together the more they will learn.”