Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish: I do not need to babysit my players

FA Cup – Manchester United vs Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish(Getty Images)

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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists that he does not need to babysit his players, because he trusts them to behave responsibly when they are away from the pitch.

The club’s record signing Andy Carroll occasionally made headlines for the wrong reasons during his time at Newcastle United, but Dalglish says he has no intention of keeping his striker – or any other Liverpool player – on a leash.

“They are grown men and I am not here to babysit,” he said, according to The News of the World.

“If you can’t give them the responsibility then you haven’t got a chance.”

Carroll, Glen Johnson, Raul Meireles and Pepe Reina went out to Spain during the week to watch the Champions League semi-final first leg clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“I hope they got a good education watching Real and Barcelona. It was only a few of the lads who went to the game and I have no problem with that.

“I don’t mind them going to watch Real Madrid and Barcelona when it does not interfere with their training. You can drive to London and it will take you longer than it will to get to Madrid for a match.”

On Sunday, Dalglish will be up against a club he previously managed as the Merseysiders take on Newcastle at Anfield.

And despite having been fired from his job in 1998, the Scot insists that he harbours no ill feeling towards the Tyneside outfit.

“In no way, shape or form is there any animosity,” said Dalglish. “I still have a great relationship with then Newcastle owner Freddy Shepherd. I can put my head on the pillow and say I did my best.

“It is always disappointing when you lose your job. I don’t think anybody who loses a job will be happy with it. But I will always say to anybody who is asked to work there, they should go.”