Kenny Dalglish has reiterated his delight at Craig Bellamy’s recent form and believes he is the perfect example for Liverpool’s younger players.
The Welsh forward has been a revelation in recent weeks, capping another fine display with a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 2-0 win at
Aston Villa.

Dalglish feels the 32-year-old’s work ethic is the secret to his success and is confident he can go on to have even more joy in the future.
Asked if he felt the No.39 was getting better with age, Dalglish said: “So I suppose you will imagine that next year he will be even better then? We’ve got a lot to look forward then. I’m not sure what age he is, I know he’s not a teenager. Since he came in he’s been fantastic on and off the pitch. The way he looks after himself is a great credit to his profession and himself. He’s getting his rewards and he’s making a contribution for us.
“We said when he came in that we were delighted to have him. We know his heart is in the right place and the performances he has been putting in have been excellent for us.”

He continued: “He is quick, he is intelligent and he chips in with goals. He scored one and made one on Sunday. We were delighted with the way he played and I’m sure Craig was as well.

“He is a great example because of the way he prepares for games. And then after he has prepared well, he’s a great example for the kids because you can say, ‘there’s someone who has prepared properly and look what he has done on the pitch’.

“A lot of people can look and learn from him because he is pretty dedicated to his profession and young players should look up to that. We are delighted to have him on board.”

Liverpool head to Wigan on today hoping to maintain the momentum that has seen them move to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea.
The Latics’s manager Roberto Martinez has spoken of the difficulty in preparing for a contest given the uncertainty surrounding Luis Suarez’s availability but Dalglish is adamant it has done little to affect his own plans.

He said: “It’s not affected us particularly. I don’t think Luis is the only player he has to worry about. We’ve got a few others. If he’s planning and identifying Luis as the danger man then fine, but I don’t see how it prevents him from planning.”

In his pre-match press conference, the Spaniard also suggested that his side would be facing the best Liverpool team in years, to which Dalglish quipped: “I think he’s a nice man.

“We just come into work, practice what we preach and try to carry it on out on the pitch. To be fair, every single one of the lads that is in the squad has made a contribution. Their contribution will be needed over the coming weeks because the games are coming up thick and fast. That’s when your squad will be tested. We know every single one of them is capable of playing games for us. We just need to pick the right games against the right teams. Hopefully we’ll get a bit of luck and come away with the points we deserve.”

Last time out, Jordi Gomez’s late equaliser claimed an impressive 1-1 draw for Wigan in their home clash with Chelsea.

Dalglish was an interested observer on that occasion and felt they more than worthy of their share of the spoils.

He said: “I thought it was a result they deserved. They changed the formation that they play and the 1-1 draw didn’t flatter them in any way. It was a pretty even game and they deserved to get something from it.

“I don’t think Roberto (Martinez) knows another way to play. He came over from Spain many years ago with two other young Spaniards and they played with style. He kept that belief going and it would be wrong for any manager to try and teach his players a style of play that he didn’t know
much about.

Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v Arsenal,
Man City v Stoke,
Newcastle v West Brom,
Everton v Swansea,
Fulham v Man Utd,
QPR v Sunderland,
Wigan v Liverpool,

Thursday, 22 December 2011
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham v Chelsea,