One of the most depressing things to have emerged from the racism scandal that has threatened to overshadow large parts of the Premier League season is the loyalty blindness that has affected large amounts of fans throughout the league.

The boos that rained down on Patrice Evra and Anton Ferdinand were a signal that all is not well in the minds of a significant minority of so called football supporters. To boo a victim or alleged victim of racism is disgusting enough but to then claim that it is justified along tribal lines is frankly appalling behavior.

If what has happened over the last few weeks would have unfolded in any other country, let us say Russia or Spain for argument’s sake, our media and fans of football in this country would have been swift and damning in their criticism of it. However, it appears to be all too easy for people to put the football goggles on and descend into some sort of twisted moral logic that even the most dastardly politician would have trouble replicating.

Take for example the booing of Patrice Evra at Anfield. Here we are faced with a large number of people abusing a person who has been found, through an independent tribunal, to have been the victim of racist abuse from a fellow professional. Yet a significant amount of Liverpool fans felt that it was acceptable to boo Evra because he played for a rival team and his evidence had seen one of the Kop’s favourites banned.

This is not just a criticism aimed at Liverpool fans. There are fans at all clubs that embarrass the right thinking majority. Chelsea fans booing Rio Ferdinand and any number of clubs who sang the now infamous Adebayor chant over the last few years are just a couple of examples. Unfortunately there are plenty more out there.

Football is an emotive subject for many and showing undying love for their team is something that comes naturally to so many and this passion is a large part of what makes football and the Premier League in particular such a joy to follow. But passion and loyalty can never be used as an excuse for behaviour that in any other walk of life would be viewed with the utmost disdain.

“It is only a game” may sound like the kind of phrase your mum would say after another demoralising defeat as a child but at times like this, it is the most important thing to remember. If we lose sight of this fact then football will have lost its place in life. The role of sport is self defined – the oldest definition of the word in English is “anything humans find amusing or entertaining”. If we have reached the point where booing a victim of abuse is entertaining is seen as a form of entertainment then we all need to take a good long look at ourselves.

Monday evening’s match at Anfield between Liverpool and Tottenham was a low-key affair. However, it did feature one standout moment: the return of Luis Suarez from his lengthy suspension for racially insulting Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. Entering the fray with 25 minutes to go, Suarez did not conjure the winning goal, but flashes of inspiration reminded everyone of his importance to a Liverpool side who have now drawn eight times at home in the league.

The relatively low key nature of Suarez’s return was the perfect opportunity for all involved to put the troublesome last few months in the past, and simply appreciate that he was back playing again. Liverpool’s manager Kenny Dalglish echoed the thoughts of the Anfield faithful saying, “It’s fantastic to have him back” — a truism which it would be very hard to refute.  Most unfortunately he followed this up by saying “He should never have been away in the first place.” Immediately it becomes patently clear that Kenny Dalglish is not about to let this one go away. This latter assertion, that Suarez was innocent of any wrong-doing is one which it is quite easy to refute.

It is important to remember the thoroughness with which the FA’s independent commission investigated the Suarez-Evra case. A 115-page document was produced which eventually found Suarez guilty of racial insults towards Evra. This diligence reflects the FA’s admirable opinion of a case of the utmost importance, and also suggests no stone was left unturned in reaching the verdict. It therefore seems sensible to assume that the investigation’s findings were correct.

Managers’ backing of their own players is nothing new. Much like a parent’s blindness to their child’s wrong-doing, most managers will back their players to the hilt no matter what the evidence suggests. However, it is rare that the consequences of such actions carry significance months after the offence. Dalglish’s comments not only hold significance so long after the offence, but his insistence of Suarez’s innocence seems unnecessary and, most importantly, irresponsible.

Despite this, Kenny Dalglish is still unable to accept the guilt of his player. Further to this, he is also seemingly unable to simply let the whole thing go. Since the day of the initial incident, now 115 days ago, through to Suarez’s return on Monday evening, there has been no acknowledgement of guilt, or any hint of an apology from either player or manager. Last night’s comments brought the whole thing to the fore again, and it could not have been timed worse with Saturday’s upcoming game between Liverpool and Manchester United. Kenny Dalglish has now reminded every Liverpool player and fan travelling to Old Trafford on Saturday that the club line on the Suarez case is that he is innocent. It would be a great surprise if they did not make this point very clear on Saturday. At the same time he also brands Patrice Evra a liar for accusing Suarez. It seems impossible that this will not be taken badly by Manchester United’s equally tribal fans.

It would surely have been easier, and substantially more diplomatic, for Kenny Dalglish not to have said anything on the matter. It was not necessary for anyone to say anything more, as it has all already been said. Suarez has served his ban, and it is good for the whole league, not just Liverpool, to have him back. He will be a huge boost to Liverpool on Saturday and for the rest of the season. He is a remarkably watchable player who made a mistake and has been punished.

Old Trafford on Saturday was always going to have a hostile atmosphere, the history between the clubs makes that inevitable every time they play. However, the scores should be settled on the pitch, with the ball. Dalglish’s loyalty, sometimes an admirable quality, in this case is irresponsible. A man in his position should understand when not to fuel the fire. It must be hoped that all the talk after Saturday’s game will be about football. After all, that’s what everyone’s there for.

“Changing the manager does not affect the way the players play on the pitch” … I begin fittingly with that quote from Wolves captain and £7million summer signing Roger Johnson. This was a quote given to journalists after the stale performance for which a review will follow shortly, au contraire Mr. Johnson, as I write both QPR and Sunderland, clubs that are guilty of doing just that, are 2-0 to the good in their Wednesday evening games and are pulling further away from the relegation mire that they were in under the previous regimes. I’m sure fans of those respective clubs would like myself and many of the Molineux masses, beg to differ…

A red mist descended upon Wolverhampton on Tuesday night both on the pitch and from the terraces. As Mick McCarthy’s chosen eleven limped from the field without so much as a whimper, those who hadn’t already walked out in disgust were left to jeer, deride and make their feelings crystal clear that enough really is enough now.

Kenny Dalglish brought his Liverpool side to Molineux for this clash in sub-zero temperatures with the requirement to keep them well grounded. After all, they had knocked out both Manchester teams, the only two viable contenders for the Premier League title, from cup competitions in the past week and earned themselves an overdue trip to Wembley in the process. Heralded once more as ‘King Kenny’, Dalglish would remind his players that such feats would easily be dampened if they were to slip up against the likes of Wolves in the league who by all accounts were ripe for the picking. With their poster boy Steven Gerrard falling victim to another niggling injury and their main goal scoring threat Luis Suarez serving the last of his much publicised 8 match ban; Dalglish opted for the in-form Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy as folly for goal-shy Andy Carroll, with a central midfield trio of Spearing, Adam and Henderson.

With the ever present Karl Henry beginning a three match suspension and Jamie O’Hara still side lined, Mick McCarthy was left with a decision to make – a task which he has not undertaken too favourably in the past. The day began with the mind boggling news that although Wolves were experiencing a noticeable shortage in midfield, Adlene Guedioura had been loaned out to Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the season. A decision that did not go down too smoothly with the Wolves supporters on the social networking sights who saw it as just another example of personality taking preference over ability when it comes to squad selection. The same can be said for mercurial talent and former Liverpool trainee Adam Hammill who even in the absence of Guedioura and Henry was again not even afforded a place on the bench, the bare minimum for Wolves best crosser of the ball. McCarthy stoked the flames even further by overlooking the obvious option of Nenad Milijas who has failed to regain his place after the much maligned red card at Arsenal. Evidence of more harsh treatment and patience not being equally afforded to certain types of player. Instead McCarthy decided that Eggart Jonsson, an unknown entity signed from Hearts in late December was ready for a baptism of fire and was thrown to the lions for his first ever Premier League start against the might of Liverpool AS Wolves set up with a conservative looking 4-5-1 system as expected.

In an indifferent first half that did little to neither inspire or alarm, it was clear that Wolves fans were in no mood for niceties. The backbone of the club have been having their buttons pushed by those in charge since the end of last season and it was evident that they are not prepared to put up with much more of the evasiveness and deceit emanating from the boardroom and the dugout. They afforded their team no let off even though the opposition were of superior quality in all areas as every mistake and hesitation was greeted with groans of anguish and impatient cries from the stands. They audience were now going to exercise their right that comes with the admission fee and play judge, jury and ultimately executioner for their club.

As Liverpool enjoyed time on the ball their freedom to express brought little joy in the first half. Andy Carroll was well marshalled by the ever willing Christophe Berra and Craig Bellamy appeared in flashes forcing Hennessey into two smart saves at his right hand post as he was stifled for the most part of the first 45. The combination of Kuyt, Adam and Henderson moved the ball well across midfield, stretching the Wolves back four on occasions whilst Wolves overworked goalkeeper was at hand to deny Martin Skrtel’s close range header from a corner and caught superbly from a well struck Bellamy free kick that looked destined for the top corner.

Wolves best moments both came via Michael Kightly; firstly a cross from the right which was met by on an onrushing Dave Edwards was smartly saved by Pepe Reina, then a decent Wolves move saw the lively winger drive narrowly wide of the post after a neat one-two with Steven Fletcher in the only real moment of note for the home fans. The 0-0 score line was enough to keep the sharks at bay whose disgruntlement at seeing more of the same predictable and one dimensional approach from their team was left to simmer underneath the surface for the time being.

It will remain beggars belief once again to Wolves fans as to what was actually said in the dressing room at the interval, as Wolves endeavoured to clam up and capitulate in the second half of a game for the second week in a row. Without having to break a sweat and with little resistance offered the other way, Liverpool were 2-0 up. Firstly Andy Carroll ghosted in to the area unnoticed to get on the end of a pinpoint cross from the left wing to end his goal drought, so often does a player who cannot seem to buy a goal break his hoodoo on the hallowed Molineux turf, this achievement did not require any extensive foresight. Stephen Ward was nowhere to be seen at left back as Carroll drifted in from the flank, whilst Eggart Jonsson offered little more than a prod at the ball as he failed to track the run of the 6 foot plus Geordie striker. Although the performance left a lot to be desired, Wolves did at least look competent defensively in the first half, sticking to their unenviable tasks well and reducing Liverpool to only half chances. This was clearly all change as the second goal shortly followed. Craig Bellamy who went here, there and everywhere for the cause picked up the ball in the centre of midfield. He was then naively allowed to carry unchallenged to the edge of the Wolves penalty area, only then did Roger Johnson halt his back pedalling and make a half-hearted lunge towards the Welshman who has already placed a scuffed shot into the bottom left hand corner. Kudos most certainly does not go to Wayne Hennessey who seemed to give the ball a helping hand into the net, undoing all his smart work in the first half. Liverpool were quintessentially cruising.

The simmering frustration from the stands boiled over as they booed the team ad managers lacklustre efforts more out of embarrassment than anything else as they watched Liverpool stroll casually around the pitch with no need for a gear change as Wolves ‘headless chicken’ mentality was all too apparent.

McCarthy responded with his clockwork shot in the dark, introducing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Stephen Hunt to the fray. Those who had considered leaving after Bellamy’s goal were metaphorically forced out of the door when the inevitable third goal came. Liverpool soaked up what Wolves tried to pass off as pressure then entered a counter attack which culminated in a four pass exchance between Charlie Adam and Dirk Kuyt as the popular Dutchman slid his 50^th goal for the Reds under the outstretched legs of Wayne Hennessey.

Whilst many were already heading to the warm refuge of their cars and homes, those who did remain in the stands were left with little choice but to belittle their own misdemeanours. A solitary attempt on goal from Ebanks-Blake late into the game which struck the post was greeted with ironic exaggerated cheers from the Southbank end of the ground and a resounding chorus of “we’ve had a shot on goal” followed by cries of “shoot! Shoot!” whenever a Wolves player touched the ball hereafter.

Evidently the supporters whose buttons had now been pushed once too often were intent on giving a little derision back towards their antagonistic manager who has never seemed to appreciate nor grasp their importance for the everyday existence of the club. Sections of the crowd voiced their feelings with chants of “McCarthy must go” and “you’re not super anymore” whilst even his most ardent of followers had little substance in their defence of their failing manager. The three added minutes were greeted with jeers as if to further drive home the point, whilst McCarthy himself entered the tunnel to more selective hounding after the final whistle.

Usually and realistically, a loss to Liverpool is nothing that anybody would hold against their team. The Anfield outfit with their rich history and heavy investment would have been expected to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers before a ball was kicked. It is once again the manner of defeat coupled with the fact it could be seen a mile off which will aggravate the gold and black public the most. When supposed ‘lesser’ teams as the three that were promoted are giving the bigger clubs a run for their money purely with their attitudes and footballing ethics, it puts Wolves recent efforts to shame. As classy as Liverpool can be, little was required of them on transfer deadline day as they coasted to victory. With Wolves pre-game preparation coming under scrutiny, it is painfully obvious that Kenny Dalglish wouldn’t have lost any sleep during his preparation for the tie. Wolves remain one dimensional and easy to work out. Their only outlet is Matt Jarvis and when this does not work the ball is returned to Wayne Hennessey for another long hopeful ball which 9 times out of 10 ends up coming straight back. There is no evident tactical nouse or footballing ethics being taught to the players who as a direct representation of their manager, are simply required to ‘put a shift in’.

Hard graft and honesty is the order of the day. This is clear as the likes of David Edwards, Stephen Ward, Karl Henry, Michael Kightly – all championship players punching above their weight, are given preferential treatment week after week over the Hammill, Milijas, Guedioura’s of the world who’s ability to do something a little out of the ordinary is overlooked purely because they are not “a Mick player”. This ideology is flawed and fundamentally wrong, anyone that will argue the point I would direct their attention towards the current form and league standings.

With the obvious candidates from the summer O’Neill, Allardyce and Hughes now safely in jobs working with lush budgets compared to the shoestring which Wolves are prepared to offer, it begs the question that it may now be far too late for that impactful managerial chance which has served Sunderland, QPR and indeed West Brom so well in the past 12 months. Concerns have also been raised recently about the chairman Steve Morgan’s intentions on wasting funds needlessly expanding a stadium that they cannot fill at its current capacity and towards a CEO who is fond of coming out in the press to explain who Wolves failed to sign rather than putting forwards the wages to improve this ailing squad. Wolves fans were left asking the poignant questions who would want to come and manage here and who would want to come and play here whilst the club has the ambitionless Championship level salary cap in place.

As the doom and gloom descends over the city, the Wolverhampton Wanderers faithful are left helpless to resist as those with the all the power at the club seemingly endeavour to drive it head first in the wrong direction. A chairman with his own personal interests, a chief executive intent on lining his own pockets and a manager who has openly expressed his reluctance to work with players of proven ability all add up to the club spiralling into the Premier League abyss. The majority of the squad that get a look in on a regular basis are made up of relegated players or those brought from lower leagues. This is all the evidence needed to condemn a Championship level squad back in that direction.

If nothing else a large percentage of the current crop owes their career to Mick McCarthy, if not for him they would almost certainly not be playing at this level. For this reason it is clear that they will always work tirelessly, honestly and give their all for the cause – whether this is enough in a game which is ultimately decided by footballing ability is another entity. The picture painted for Wolves fans is one that although there may be a distinct lack of flair, ingenuity and craft in the squad,  their team will get by on its heart, fight and passion. The performance last night was lacking in all three of those prerequisites. The question is when these go, and the very players who are indebted to Mick McCarthy stop playing for him, what if anything is left…?

The fourth round of the FA Cup today offers too very explosive matches for all of the wrong reasons. Let’s hope the off-the-field drama involving QPR and Chelsea plus Liverpool and Manchester United doesn’t spill over to the pitch. The sooner we get the handshake or no handshake behind us, as well as the whole Patrice Evra incident, the better. Today should be a day to concentrate our focus back on the football that’s played on the pitch.

For viewers in the United States, there’ll be three other FA Cup games televised in addition to QPR/Chelsea and Liverpool/Man United. Those are Leicester against Swindon (a battle between two up-and-coming teams), Derby against Stoke City (a chance for American-owned Derby to try to get a Premier League scalp) and then, last but not least, Brighton against Newcastle. Brighton manager Gus Poyet’s side started off the season very well, but may find it too tough to beat Newcastle at their brand-new stadium. However, if Newcastle’s defense plays anything like they did against Fulham last week, anything is possible.

Starting line-ups:

Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Welbeck.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Carragher, Henderson, Gerrard, Downing, Maxi, Carroll.

Before, during and after today’s FA Cup matches, post your rants, raves, questions and observations in the comments section below.

Take any Premier League match and there will often be one or more crucial calls made in a game by the referee that will be incorrect and, sometimes, will sway the final score of the match. Whether it’s the correct or incorrect decision to award a penalty for Liverpool after Micah Richards handled the ball, or a stamp that goes unnoticed by the referee, or a lunge that was correctly or incorrectly penalized with a red card, the catalogue of questionable decisions is a mile long.

Practically every collision and goalmouth incident is scrutinized so closely on television. The incidents are played over and over again, in slowmo and from different camera angles. Oftentimes, if you’re like me, when I first see an incident, my reaction will be to call it one way — either a foul or not a foul, a goal or a not a goal, etc. Then I’ll see a different camera angle, and I’ll agree that my first reaction was a correct one. But then the devils that are those production people will show me a entirely different camera angle and I’ll completely change my mind. This happens so often that I’ve lost count.

For once, in an upcoming high profile football match — take, for example, this Saturday’s early kick-off between Liverpool and Manchester United in the FA Cup — I’d love it if the FA and TV networks took part in an experiment. For one match only, all slowmo and replays will be banned. All we’ll get to see in the match is the game itself, played in real-time without the opportunity to see key incidents replayed.

It would be incredibly frustrating, right? We’d be itching to see that key moment again to second guess whether what we thought we saw indeed actually happened.

Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the world of referees. Not aided by any video technology, the referee and his assistants can only make decisions by what they see in real-time. They don’t have the luxury to see it again. For once, we would be on a par with the ref. They would have the advantage of being on the actual pitch, but depending on their position on the pitch compared to our camera angle, the referee and his team wouldn’t always have the best vantage point for seeing incidents.

Maybe then we’d have a greater appreciation of the difficult job that referees have, and how it’s completely unfair that we have so many more advantages over referees of seeing the incidents over and over again on our TV sets while the refereeing teams have nothing.

By the way, I believe Phil Dowd’s decision was a correct one tonight. Having said that, I can see both sides of the argument. When something like that happened tonight, a referee can’t win. If he hadn’t called a penalty, the home crowd would have put him under so much pressure because he didn’t award a penalty when Richards obviously handled the ball. But from City’s perspective, he didn’t have an opportunity to get his hands out of the way. No human can attempt to throw his body and try to block a shot by not using his arms to balance himself, like Richards did. That the ball hit is hand was purely accidental, but like I said before, if Dowd had not awarded a penalty, the fans (and any home fans) would have been baying for his blood.

Manchester City’s month of January continued to drop like a lead balloon. Craig Bellamy stuffed home the decisive goal at Anfield with just over 15 minutes remaining, and Liverpool set up a Wembley date with Cardiff City in the Carling League Cup Final.

City was playing for yet another game without their standout central defender, Vincent Kompany. The backline proved to be an issue on the decisive goal, as Bellamy worked a give-and-go with Glen Johnson near the penalty spot. Bellamy’s left foot beat Joe Hart, his former teammate at the Manchester club.

Until then, it looked like the Blues would be willing to play a more defensive approach. If Manchester City could have held onto a 2-2 aggregate score until the 120 minute mark, they would have escaped the round on away goal total. Roberto Mancini waited too long to bring on defensive support, and Bellamy took City out of yet another competition.

In the past two months, Manchester City has bowed out of three competitions – the League Cup, the FA Cup (the match against Manchester United where Kompany drew red on a tackle of Nani), and the Champions League. Aside from the Premier League, the only other competition that City can vie for will be the UEFA Europa League.

The match started well for the Reds. They dominated much of the possession early, but the first goal came to the Blues from an unlikely source. Holding midfielder Samuel de Jong took a shot from 22 yards after accepting a pass from David Silva in the 31st minute. The Dutchman’s strike wasn’t completely clean, but it had a hard bend to the left. It eluded Pepe Reina’s reach to the upper right 90 to level the tie on aggregate.

Nine minutes later, Liverpool reacquired the lead on their second penalty of the round. A shot from Daniel Agger deflected off Micah Richard’s extended leg and onto his arm. Referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot, a call which seemed very unfair since Richards had no time to react and because the deflection would have likely struck his head had his arm been elsewhere. Steven Gerrard’s low penalty to his left left Joe Hart no chance to stop, and the Reds were back up, 2-1.

The score remained 2-1 until City found a way level again in the 67th minute, this time on a low, bending cross from left fullback Aleksandar Kolarov. Silva couldn’t reach the ball on the near post, but Edin Dzeko was attacking from the far side and took care of the chance. That could have been enough to send Manchester City through, but former Blue Bellamy decided the result for the home club.

The Final of the League Cup will occur on February 26th.

The managerial merry-go-round is one of the unpleasant facets of Premier League football. Too often, the board members of clubs are quick to sack a manager due to a string of poor results or because of outside pressure. The objective of dismissing a manager is, of course, to effect change. Immediate results are often improved, but the song generally remains the same. Conversely, there are the untouchables; the managers who are rated so highly or have achieved so much that they will never have to take a trip to the gallows. This is not a new problem, but one that has become more apparent in recent times. Two men that highlight this interesting state of affairs are Arsene Wenger and Kenny Dalglish.

With regard to Wenger, it is hard to argue that Arsenal should begin the search for a new manager, and this is not an attempt to advocate that course of action. He is an excellent manager that has worked wonders for his club — once upon a time, at least. Arsenal has not improved in recent years while clubs around them have. Arsenal and Manchester United used to represent the upper echelon of the Premier League. Systematically, Chelsea, Manchester City and now Tottenham have replaced Arsenal as a top 4 side. Wenger has said that a Champions League place is his target. At this point, it looks unlikely.

The frustration for Arsenal fans, and supporters of the Wenger football ethos, is that the same problems have persisted at the club for upwards of five seasons. Namely, a lack of veteran know-how, little graft in midfield, little quality on the bench, and inconsistent defending. At some point he must be held accountable for either being unable or unwilling to change. However, despite the fans’ and Robin van Persie’s reaction to a substitution this past weekend, Wenger remains untouchable.  “In Arsene we Trust” is a slogan in limbo, lost somewhere between a statement in faith and a joke.

Dalglish’s situation is different because he has not been the manager of Liverpool for a long period of time. However, he has managed long enough to be evaluated. Clearly, Liverpool has improved under Dalglish. The club’s record under him has been measurably better than the Roy Hodgson era. However, the degree of improvement, when compared with money spent, has been substandard. Hodgson spent approximately $37 million, and obtained a winning percentage of 42% in 31 games. Dalglish has spent $179 million, and achieved a winning percentage of 51% in 51 games. A more telling stat, is that Liverpool’s winning percentage this season is 40%. Given the resources at his disposal, Dalglish’s tenure has not been overly successful. Dalglish was supposed to restore the glory and the aura at Liverpool. Yet the club has been plagued by inconsistent play on the field and controversy of it. There are no cries for his dismissal. Would that be the case if he was not an Anfield legend?

It is difficult to say whether either club would benefit from a managerial change. Especially Liverpool where Dalglish deserves more time. Dalglish will probably be afforded that privilege so rarely given to managers, because he is untouchable. In a results oriented business, when you are a manager of a top club, you have to be at least challenging for a top four finish. If that is the bar by which Dalglish and Wenger are to be evaluated, they are failing. Interestingly, Andre Villas-Boas is the most maligned manager of a top team. Villas-Boas has his club sitting in fourth, five points ahead of Arsenal in his first season as manager. How he must envy Dalglish and Wenger.

“We’ve got to look at ourselves. If that’s the level they expect this football club to play at, then they won’t be here long.” These were the words of Kenny Dalglish after a humiliating defeat to Bolton at the weekend. David Johnson, a former Liverpool striker who enjoyed much success with the club in the 70′s and 80′s commented, “I’ve played beside Kenny, I know Kenny and that’s the worst I’ve seen Kenny in terms of how a game’s affected him.”

As a football fan, I have supported Kenny’s rebuilding philosophy, transfer policy and the players themselves, all season. I admit at times, I have given them more favor then perhaps they deserved but I would like to think not so much as to clearly contradict well reasoned judgments based not only on what has occurred this season at Liverpool but judgments based a lifetime of watching football, avidly.

However, after Liverpool’s performance away to Bolton, after wholeheartedly consistently backing Kenny’s philosophy and the players, I personally felt it was all thrown back in my face. As I reflected on how I felt, I tried to comprehend the pain Dalglish must have experienced after months of putting his faith and encouragement in players, which was often against the strong flow of criticism from the masses. The players had no excuses, their bad performance lies solely with themselves.

Henry Winter of the Daily Telegraph said, “This is unprecedented. It’s unprecedented for Dalglish and it’s pretty unprecedented for Liverpool, who like to do their talking on issues like this, team matters, in the dressing room.” Nobody who has followed Liverpool FC would disagree. The public threat of terminating players contracts is something not only unprecedented for Liverpool but something which is rare in top flight football as a whole. Such was the magnitude of Dalglish’s reaction.

Dalglish’s clear love of the club and respect for the fans, highlighted in incidents like this, is something that has endeared him to the supporters over the years and something that provides him with more time and support that not many other managers would be afforded after such spending and such a bad performance — a performance that many would argue has been coming to the boil for sometime now. In a previous article entitled “Where is Liverpool Lacking On The Pitch”, I suggested that Liverpool’s problem’s lie not solely with a clinical striker but rather went through the midfield positions as well. That judgment was vindicated against Bolton.

I define what people refer to as a “small” or “big” club by it’s ambitions. Most, if not all of the players Dalglish brought in over the summer have never felt the weight of expectation and ambition that is now upon their shoulders. What separates world class players from the rest is not simply a question of technical ability but also the mental attitude to perform at their highest level consistently, whether the occasion be big or small.

Opinion is divided over whether the Liverpool player’s bad performance against Bolton was simply a temporary flaw in attitude or whether it was more a permanent flaw of quality. Without generalizing or mounting the moral high horse, the attitude of the players against Bolton brings rise to the question, “How in touch with the fans is the modern day footballer?” With wages that clearly create an abyss between them and the ordinary working class fan, players must learn to respect fans and appreciate the gift they have. Creating comradery among players is crucial but the comradery must extend to the supporters, to avoid a type of elite, men’s social club which is exclusive to the players. The level of respect and connection players have to their fans will be measured in their performances and interactions with supporters. I do not wish to condemn or judge the Liverpool players nor suggest they lack respect. There are many troubles connected with such a famous lifestyle that ordinary people will never understand and that one match against Bolton has been the exception rather than the rule this season. However the question is still a valid one.

Many people of the PlayStation generation, when it comes to their views on rebuilding teams and building legacies, have a philosophy of quick fixes: Bringing in the world’s most expensive players at a prime age to solve a club’s problems.

However no team that can boast of a legacy. An extended period of winning elite competitions was never built overnight. There are fundamental principles of attitude that must be instilled not only into the players, but fans also. There are patterns of familiarity among players that takes years to build, principles of a certain playing philosophy that takes years to instill and patterns of patience in the growth of young players that must be achieved, players that are now inconsistent but who one day could become the leaders of lethal football teams. In the history of Liverpool, Ronnie Whelan and Lucas Leiva are two of many examples.

The Barcelona of today, admired around the world, was not built overnight and was not always winning trophies. In 2007 in the Champions League, Liverpool beat a Barcelona side which included Valdes, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Champions are something built as a slow burning ember not an instant explosion.

The upcoming week for Liverpool will be a critical time for the club under Dalglish and will give supporters a measure of the players that have been chosen to create a new glorious period for Liverpool. If Dalglish’s condemnation of the player’s attitude against Bolton is not enough to rile them for the second leg of a semi final cup tie and an FA Cup encounter with Manchester United, nothing ever will and Dalglish himself will have to shoulder the blame.

However if they rise to the occasion, it will be a turning point for them in the league and the future that lies ahead. If they manage to win a trophy, they will rid themselves of a monkey that has been on the club’s back since 2006. More importantly however, it will breed confidence and belief in the players, the players belief in themselves but also the players belief in their manager’s philosophy. Something that is a critical component of any successful side.

The coming week will either make or break many Liverpool supporters and players current belief system.

Liverpool and Chelsea are both planning summer tours to the United States to compete in preseason friendlies, which may include Liverpool playing AS Roma at Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park baseball stadium, says The Boston Globe.

The newspaper reports that in addition to Liverpool possibly playing Roma at Fenway Park, that other preseason friendlies which may include Liverpool and/or Chelsea playing in Chicago (at either Comiskey Park or Wrigley Field) and at Yankee Stadium in New York. Toronto has also been rumored as a consideration.

Dates have not been set, according to the newspaper, but Liverpool has made reservations, in preparation for the tour, in the Boston area from June 20 through July 4.

Seeing Liverpool and Chelsea playing friendlies this summer in the United States will be a welcoming sign of the Premier League’s continued growth in the country as well as the economic boost that the English clubs receive after playing in front of sold-out crowds. However, don’t expect a lengthy tour by either Liverpool or Chelsea due to Euro 2012 (June 8 to July 1) and the Summer Olympic Games (July 27 to August 12).

With Liverpool owned by Fenway Sports Group, this undoubtedly was a major factor in seeing Liverpool return to the United States on tour. The last time Liverpool played in North America was in 2004 as part of the Champions Tour when they played Celtic and AS Roma. The last time Chelsea played in North America was the summer of 2009 when they completed a successful tour as part of the World Football Challenge.

The tour is expected to be announced shortly. But which cities would you like to see Chelsea and Liverpool play in?

After two successive cup games, Liverpool return to league action this Saturday with a home fixture against Stoke City. The Reds have already met Tony Pulis` men on two occasions this season, suffering a contentious 1-0 defeat at the Britannia in September before gaining a degree of revenge a month later with a 2-1 victory in the Carling Cup.

Dalglish’s side have been far too inconsistent at home this season. While they are unbeaten in 10 league matches at Anfield, they have drawn four of them. However, since the return of Steven Gerrard, Liverpool’s frail look since Suarez’s absence, not to forget Lucas’, who was outstanding for the Reds, has suddenly disappeared. Gerrard has led from the front since his return, and after seizing an important advantage in their attempt to reach Wembley for the first time since 1996, Liverpool will be hoping to continue their impressive recent run of form.

A clash with Tony Pulis’ Stoke is the first of three very winnable games for Liverpool, with meetings against Bolton and Wolves to follow. Liverpool will host Tottenham and travel to Old Trafford for a clash with Manchester United after those first outings. Stoke have been on a rise of their own however, and are not to be underestimated. Recent progress in the FA Cup following a 1-3 away victory against League Two side Gillingham and entering the round of 32 in the Europa League is indeed worth the praise. Also, with the Potters being the current incumbents of the eighth spot in the League, it is safe to say that all is well at the Britannia. But, Anfield is a very hard place for them to go on Saturday and Matthew Etherington and Jonathan Walters, who have both laid on five assists this campaign, will need to produce their best if Stoke are to come away with anything.

Liverpool will be brimming with confidence after recent results and I expect them to come away with a comfortable three points. The Reds will be without Lucas and Suarez, with Spearing ‘touch and go’ according to Dalglish. Henderson will be the player to watch this weekend after his impressive, energy-sapping performance vs Manchester City, and along with Downing, Adam and Bellamy will provide a strong source of pace and creativity behind Gerrard, who could start just behind Carroll. Former Red Peter Crouch will lead the attack for Stoke and will be trying to score his first goal against them in his ninth attempt.

Stoke have scored just eight goals away from home so far this season. Only Fulham have a worse record having netted just six times on their travels. Equally worrying for the Potters is the fact that Liverpool have conceded just eight times at home in the league, a statistic bettered only by Arsenal and Manchester City.