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• ‘Whispers about change after one defeat is ludicrous’
• Gerrard claims he has no problem with City’s Roberto Mancini

Steven Gerrard has described criticism of Kenny Dalglish following Liverpool’s defeat at Bolton as “absolutely ludicrous” and said he harbours no ill-feeling towards Roberto Mancini before Wednesday night’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City.

Liverpool go into the game with a 1-0 advantage courtesy of Gerrard’s penalty but also on the back of their worst performance since Dalglish returned as manager 12 months ago. Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at the Reebok prompted an uncharacteristic verbal attack on the team from the manager and questions have been asked of his ability to lead the club back into the Champions League after a run of six points from six league games.

An incredulous Gerrard said: “Change happens at football clubs year in and year out because everyone is desperate for success. Change happens all the time. But the few whispers about a change of manager after one defeat is ludicrous to me. It’s absolutely ludicrous and I take no notice of that at all. The thing that needs to change is the people who are here need to try and not put in performances like the one against Bolton and get back to the way we’ve been 95% of the time under Kenny, which has been very good.”

Liverpool’s first leg with City, two weeks ago, ended with Gerrard confronting Mancini while the Italian was in the middle of a radio interview. The City manager claimed Glen Johnson should have been sent off for a two-footed challenge on Joleon Lescott and was accused of hypocrisy by the Liverpool captain, having previously condemned Wayne Rooney for calling for Vincent Kompany’s dismissal against Manchester United in a Cup tie.

But Gerrard said: “It was more of a heated conversation. It wasn’t an argument or a head-to-head duel or anything. I’d read his comments where he was criticising Wayne Rooney for waving cards and he was waving the cards at Glen Johnson. It wasn’t an argument, I just thought I’d tell him that he was wrong.

“These things happen but I’ve got total respect for Mancini for what he achieved as a player and for the job he’s doing at Man City. I’m not really interested in myself and Mancini. I’m just interested in getting a result. But there are certainly no hard feelings between me and him.”

Despite Liverpool’s lead and City’s problems in attack, Gerrard admits the home side cannot risk a containment policy against the Premier League leaders. “That is the danger – going into the game thinking that we’re 1-0 up and that we need to protect that lead. We need to start at 0-0 in our minds and go out to try and win the game. Against Bolton we probably had one player, Craig Bellamy, who could be satisfied with his performance. Against City we need 11, otherwise we won’t be going to Wembley.”

Steven GerrardLiverpoolRoberto ManciniKenny DalglishAndy Hunter
guardian.co.uk

• Manager wants captain to play into late 30s
• Gerrard says he will only ever play for Liverpool

The Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, has said that the club’s captain, Steven Gerrard, could continue playing well into his late 30s. The England midfielder, who will be 32 in May, signed an extension to his existing deal on Thursday and has said that he wants to play beyond his current contract.

Gerrard has recently been dogged by a groin problem, which required surgery, and then an ankle infection. Dalglish said: “You have to wait and see how they get through injuries. Ryan Giggs is 38, isn’t he? That’s seven years down the line – that’s a long time to predict – but if he’s fit there’s no reason why not. I’ve not got a crystal ball. I’m just delighted he’s done what he’s done and we have got him here.”

Dalglish is widely thought to have been Liverpool’s greatest player but he said Gerrard should come into the reckoning.

“I wouldn’t disagree, he has certainly made a huge contribution to the club but he wouldn’t be far away from being mentioned as the best player,” Dalglish said. “It is not just what he does in and around the first team, it is what he stands for the football club as well – which is more important. His standing within the community is fantastic and the way he does other work happily is a great testimony to himself as well.”

Gerrard refused to sign a new contract until he had returned to playing and could prove his problems were behind him.

“I was down in the dumps at the time and for them to offer me the contract extension was the boost I needed,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “Everyone at the club supported me so well. I agreed the extension a long time ago, I was always going to sign it, but I told them I wanted to wait until I had proved my fitness. I didn’t think it was right to sign when I was out injured. I wanted to wait until I was back out there and had shown people that the injuries were all behind me.”

Gerrard continued: “I can only see myself playing for Liverpool Football Club now. I’m very flattered that the club have offered me the chance to stay on after my playing days. Hopefully I can stay involved with the club and set the right example for youngsters coming through but that ambassadorial role may have to wait for a while. There’s still a great deal I want to achieve as a player.”

Gerrard will lead the team out at home to Stoke on Saturday. Asked what he had learned from two matches against Tony Pulis’s this season, Dalglish said: “If you don’t score any goals, you don’t get any points if you lose one at the other end.

“Every team brings a different problem and we have to deal with the problems we anticipate they’ll bring. But they’ve also got to deal with our strengths and we’ve got a lot of them.”

After Gerrard and the Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, confronted each other about a Glen Johnson tackle in midweek, Dalglish said he was looking for consistency from referees.

“The discussion is not about one person’s tackle against the other, it is about consistency and interpretation of tackles,” he said. “There are always going to be inconsistencies and human error but there are laws within the game which are as clear as mud.”

Kenny DalglishSteven GerrardLiverpoolguardian.co.uk

• Liverpool’s manager says the problem is ‘nothing sinister’
• Gerrard faces spell out to recover from an ankle infection

Kenny Dalglish has said there is nothing “sinister” in Steven Gerrard’s latest fitness problem and that the Liverpool captain is progressing well.

The 31-year-old missed last weekend’s win at West Bromwich Albion and has been ruled out of Saturday’s visit of Swansea City as well as England’s two forthcoming friendlies because of an ankle infection.

Pictures of Gerrard leaving hospital on crutches with his right leg in a protective cast emerged on Sunday, leading to speculation about the extent of the problem and what procedure he had undergone. However, Dalglish dismissed the conspiracy theories.

“Since they have found the infection he has progressed extremely well and everything is positive for him,” the Liverpool manager said. “We found the infection but I suppose it is a bit like flu – you know you’ve got it but you don’t know where it came from.

“But it is responding well so that is positive for him. There’s nothing more sinister.”

Liverpool beat West Brom without the services of Gerrard and Jamie Carragher (calf), their two most experienced players, and there remains a doubt over whether the latter will be ready to return at the weekend.

Dalglish admits the side miss their Scouse heartbeat but he feels that, unlike at times in the past, a squad which has been significantly strengthened over the last 10 months is well-equipped to cope without them.

“We will have a rain check on Carra. If he’s not going to be right, he’s not going to be right,” Dalglish said. “I think as a club we are much better with those two fit. They have been fantastic servants for the club and they will continue to be. It is a great achievement for the boys to get a result at West Brom without either of those two playing.”

Steven GerrardLiverpoolKenny Dalglishguardian.co.uk