Dalglish draws hope from Liverpool fightback

Kenny Dalglish insists Liverpool are showing signs of turning their season around even though they remain just four points above the relegation zone.

Dalglish, who had a successful stint as manager between 1985 and 1991, was defeated by Manchester United in the FA Cup in his first game and defeated by Blackpool in the Premier League before Sunday's 2-2 draw with Everton.

The Reds have won just seven of their 22 league games this season but Dalglish is adamant that Liverpool are not far off transforming their fortunes.

"I can see the belief coming back into those players and that's great news.

"They've all got to adapt to that and it's a great credit that they've adapted to what Stevie (Clarke), Sammy (Lee) and myself have asked them to do," he said.

"The training is different to what it was. That doesn't mean it's better but it's different but they believe in what they're doing.

"Before I was manager I was going to games and couldn't believe there weren't that many wins.

"The best way to turn it round is put our words into performances.

"I have not been surprised negatively by anyone since I came here. I've been really pleased with attitude.

"We're not having a great deal of fortune going our way at the moment but if we keep working, the sooner it will turn."

Dalglish, who had to take Daniel Agger off at half time at Anfield due to illness, is now set for talks with owner John W Henry regarding Liverpool's January transfer business.

Henry was at Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Everton and is now due to meet the manager, who has been appointed until the end of the season, for discussions.

"We'll sit down and have a chat and hopefully they might buy us a bit of dinner," he said.

"They're going to ask me a question of how it is and I'll give them the answer but I'm not going to give the answer to you."

Liverpool took the lead against their neighbours with a fine strike from Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles.

But in the space of six minutes after half time, Sylvain Distin and Jermaine Beckford gave Everton the lead before Dirk Kuyt's penalty earned a point.

Everton manager David Moyes left Steven Pienaar out of his squad for the Liverpool match amid interest from Chelsea and Tottenham.

The South African winger is out of contract in the summer and Chelsea have had a three million pound (4.7 million dollar) bid accepted by Everton, while Spurs have made an offer that has fallen short of the Goodison Park club's valuation.

Pienaar was due to attend training on Monday morning with his future still far from clear.

"Steven came to see me yesterday (Saturday) and said that he didn't feel he was in the right place to play," he said.

"We've accepted an offer from Chelsea, we haven't accepted an offer from Tottenham.

"Steven hasn't agreed terms with Chelsea and felt that he isn't in the right place and I felt it would be better not to use him if that was the case.

"He'll be in training tomorrow (Monday) because at the moment we don't have a deal.

"We gave his representatives a chance to talk to Chelsea but he hasn't got permission to talk to Tottenham because they haven't offered the same money. If they do that might change or maybe he'll agree terms with Chelsea."

French striker Louis Saha missed the game with a thigh problem but will be expected to return to action against West Ham at Goodison Park at the weekend.

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