Kenny Dalglish is willing to take charge at Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish is willing to replace Rafael Benítez as Liverpool manager — but only if the Anfield board considers him to be the best possible replacement for the Spaniard.

Dalglish, who resigned as Liverpool manager in 1991 before returning to the club last year in a new ambassador’s role, had been asked to help Christian Purslow, the managing director, to find a successor to Benítez, who left last Thursday by mutual consent.

Benítez was confirmed last night as the new coach of Inter Milan, where he will succeed José Mourinho.

However, Dalglish has told friends that he would like the job, although he is not willing to compromise the club in any way by making his interest in the position known.

Roy Hodgson is the early front-runner to take over at Anfield, with Liverpool understood to be preparing an approach for the Fulham manager.

But Dalglish, who won three league titles during his six-year spell in charge from 1985, believes he has the credentials and the standing within the club to take on the job for a second time.

Such a move would undoubtedly be popular with supporters, who view Dalglish as a legend, but whether the Liverpool hierarchy believe the 59-year-old is ready to make what would be an emotional return to the dugout, despite not having managed at the top level for almost a decade, is open to question.

Dalglish is unlikely to put pressure on the club he served as player and manager by publicly declaring his interest, but he will inform Purslow and his fellow board members of his belief that he can do the job if called upon. He can do so in the confidence that few, if any, of the contenders to succeed Benítez can boast such an impressive CV and that none of them can match the depth of his association with Liverpool.

Dalglish has always maintained that he would be ready and willing to help Liverpool in any way should the club call upon his services, but the present situation is complicated by the fact that he is not on the shortlist that is being considered and he would have to forgo his role on the selection panel for that to change.

Inter confirmed that Benítez will take over as manager of the European champions. “We have reached an agreement and we have sorted out all the last remaining details,” Massimo Moratti, the president, said. “Tomorrow we will announce when Benítez will be unveiled to the press.”

Source:The Times