Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has accepted there are problems within his side after they slumped to a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches at Newcastle United.
But the 61-year-old Anfield great has insisted he will stay calm in a bid to get the Reds back on track ahead of their FA Cup semi-final date with Merseyside rivals Everton on April 14.
Dalglish will have to make do without goalkeeper Pepe Reina for that game after the Spain international was sent off in the closing stages of the 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park on Sunday.
It was a troubled afternoon for Liverpool, who ended up with former Newcastle defender Jose Enrique in goal and saw another ex-Magpie, striker Andy Carroll, direct his frustration towards his boss before disappearing up the tunnel after his second-half substitution.
Dalglish, whose side face Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday and travel to Blackburn Rovers before their Wembley clash with Everton, said his players had to use their frustration to their advantage.
“We’ve got to try and remain calm and sort out the problems that we have to get ourselves back to the way that we want to be playing,” said Dalglish of a Liverpool team who’ve already won the League Cup this season.
“I don’t think it’s a problem with confidence. We’ve got to stick together and believe in what we’re doing,” the former Liverpool and Scotland striker, now in his second spell as Reds manager, said.
“It’s not as if they don’t work hard and don’t have the determination and effort to put it right.”
Carroll’s annoyance was symptomatic of a shambolic afternoon for the visitors as his replacement on Tyneside, Papiss Cisse, scored both goals for the Magpies. The former Newcastle striker had earlier been booked for a 10th-minute dive when tumbling inside the penalty area.
Reina was sent off in the 85th minute after appearing to headbutt James Perch, the Newcastle defender. He will now serve a three-match ban, meaning Brazilian keeper Alexander Doni – signed from Roma in July – looks set to make his Liverpool debut.
“Pepe got a deserved red card,” said Dalglish.
“There was a bit of remorse there (when I spoke to him after the game).”