Kenny is latest to claim 'all is fine' at Liverpool

New Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists the squad at Anfield is good enough to compete with the big boys, but they still remain distant outsiders to finish in the Premier League top four.

Nine defeats from their first 20 league games this season was enough for Roy Hodgson, only appointed during the summer, to be shown the door on Saturday.

Anfield legend Dalglish, who led the team to a double in the 1980s, took over at the helm until the end of the season but was forced to watch yet another defeat as they lost to arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup third round.

Liverpool aspire to be in the Premier League top four, and both during last season under Rafa Benitez and the first half of this under Hodgson the managers have continually claimed the club are good enough for this, despite performances on the pitch, and the Premier League best odds, indicating the contrary.

The Anfield club are lucky that this season looks like being the closest in living memory, as despite their shocking first half of the campaign they are only 11 points behind Tottenham in fourth place, although anyone looking to bet on Premier League action should remember that a gap that size can be hard to close.

It was the frailties of Liverpool's squad that were shown up on numerous occasions under Hodgson, and it remains to be seen if the temporary boss will be handed cash to spend, but Dalglish is confident there is enough talent to mount a top four bid.

"We've got some decent players and I am happy to move forward with this squad of players," the gaffer said.

"Everyone has a role to play to take the club forward and if everyone does their role to the best of their abilities we won't be far away."

Dalglish has been quick to make his first major change at Anfield, with Steve Clarke being named his first team coach.

The Scot has previously worked at Chelsea where he and Jose Mourinho won two Premier League titles and Liverpool will need him to help make big changes to a failing squad on and off the pitch.