Kenny Dalglish unites Liverpool round belief that he should be manager

John W Henry, unlike others before him, knows it is not for those in suits to play to the crowd at Liverpool. "It is early days," he said on Monday on the search for Roy Hodgson's permanent replacement, although Kenny Dalglish auditioning for the job has become akin to an Oscar winner awaiting a part in the school play. So much for the gamble; so much for the poisonous in-fighting. In the 30 days between being asked to leave a cruise for a listing ship and beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Dalglish has collected 13 points from a possible 18, elevated Liverpool from 12th to 6th in the Premier League and taken a club that was four points off the bottom to within six points of Champions League qualification. The transformation wrought is even more comprehensive. he Scot galvanised a club tired of the politicking of Rafael Benítez and aghast at the folly of Hodgson's appointment the moment he accepted Henry's invitation. That was to be expected of a Liverpool legend immersed in the triumph and tragedy of the club and, conscious of his predecessors' mistakes, he has proclaimed unity at every available opportunity. "It's like having a 12th man on the line," says Martin Kelly. It is on the pitch, however, where Dalglish has submitted the strongest application for a job he has craved for 20 years and the finest riposte to accusations of going stale on the golf course. Within 24 hours of overseeing Liverpool's FA Cup exit at Manchester United he had brought Steve Clarke on to the coaching team. There had been talk of Ian Rush reprising his revered double-act with Dalglish from the technical area but there was a limit to Liverpool's romanticism and an experienced coach with Premier League-winning pedigree arrived instead. Dalglish refused to bestow individual praise on his compatriot after last week's win over Stoke City, preferring the line that Liverpool win and lose together, but four successive clean sheets and frequent tributes from players testify to Clarke's influence. "The training the last couple of weeks has been very enjoyable," said Steven Gerrard, "and I think the lads have taken it out there on the pitch." Dalglish's first team-selection was at Blackpool (Hodgson had selected the side for Old Trafford) and was instructive despite the subsequent defeat. Out went Paul Konchesky, Joe Cole and David Ngog from the side Hodgson fielded in the previous league game at Blackburn Rovers. They have not started for Liverpool since and, with Konchesky now on loan at Nottingham Forest, are unlikely to again. Glen Johnson returned from paternity leave at Bloomfield Road but rather than drop Kelly for the £18m right-back, or deploy the inexperienced 20-year-old out of position as Hodgson had done, Dalglish asked Johnson to adapt on the left. The reward has been the blossoming of Kelly and the return of defensive discipline to Johnson's game, without curbing his attacking instincts or provoking any complaint. The availability and contentment of Daniel Agger has also been instrumental in Liverpool's defensive improvement. "We wanted to change the type of football we were playing," said Henry, Liverpool's principal owner. "We wanted it to be more positive, a 'pass and move' philosophy which would help stabilise the club. The team was playing in a way which wasn't suiting the club. It is early days yet but I don't think we could have made a better choice [than Dalglish]." That philosophy was evident briefly at Blackpool and has developed with every game. More support from midfield runners and breaking in numbers has been reflected in Raul Meireles's current run of four goals in five games and two consecutive away wins for a team that produced only one in the Premier League under Hodgson. Gone is the long-ball strategy that accelerated Anfield's misgivings over the former Fulham manager. Dalglish's man-management may not have banished the deep-rooted disillusionment that Fernando Torres felt at Anfield but it has impacted on those who want to play for the club. Unlike Hodgson he has stoked Liverpool's ambitions, he has had the financial backing to sell Torres's departure as a fresh start and, crucially, everyone connected with Liverpool, from Gerrard to Jamie Carragher, Fenway Sports Group to supporters, is desperate for Dalglish to succeed. "He's brought the club together as one," said Carragher. "The players and the supporters are all together. It wasn't like that at the start of the season, unfortunately for Roy. But I think Kenny coming in has galvanised the support behind the team again and obviously his record as a manager in the past is fantastic. He's one of the top managers around. He's won four championships. I would never criticise Roy or say this manager is doing something different or is better, that is disrespectful. But it's going well at the moment and we will certainly enjoy it." It is understandable that FSG considers a temporary appointment over five months and all available options in the summer but it is also the group's good fortune that a critical decision is being made easier by the game.