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‘King Kenny’ optimistic for upcoming season

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish (right) gets thrown the microphone by Phil Thompson in training. (Yahoo! photo/ Ewen Boey)
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish (right) gets thrown the microphone by Phil Thompson in training. (Yahoo! photo/ Ewen Boey)

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is not feeling any pressure to perform well in the upcoming Premier League season.

Speaking to reporters at Liverpool's press conference in Kuala Lumpur, the Reds legend shrugged and laughed off a question when asked if he felt a heavy weight on his shoulders.

"I can only try my best," he said, before sharing the team's goal.

"For European clubs, players want to play at the highest level, and the Champions League is that highest level, so that is a minimum aim for this season."

Arriving in Malaysia on the back of a 4-3 pre-season victory in Guangdong, China, Dalglish added, "It was a good training exercise for us.

"Everyone who came with us got a game. That's important as this is just a continuation of pre-season training. It's very important players get time on the pitch.

"In pre-season players will make mistakes and we did make a few but we will accept that and move on. The lads all worked very hard."

Dalglish, who was the last manager to have won the league title for the Reds in 1990, will be hoping that the imminent signing of Stewart Downing can help bolster the club's problematic left flank.

The Reds are desperate for a good wide-man after the failure of players like Ryan Babel, Albert Riera, Mark Gonzalez and more recently, Milan Jovanovic and Joe Cole.

However, Dalglish may also have to deal with the demands of Danish centre-back Daniel Agger for more first team football.

"I want to play football, it has to happen this year, so I'm training hard and hopefully I'll get some games," said the former Brøndby player, indicating that he may want to move from the club if he does not get to play enough games in the upcoming season.

Daniel Agger: Looking for first-team football at Liverpool. (Yahoo! photo/ Ewen Boey)
Daniel Agger: Looking for first-team football at Liverpool. (Yahoo! photo/ Ewen Boey)

To Dalglish, Liverpool are no doubt still the "best" club in England despite Manchester United winning their 19th title last season, overtaking Liverpool's long-held record of 18.

With a squad bolstered by the signing of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson alongside Stewart Downing, and only the league and domestic cups to focus on in the upcoming season, fans are hoping to see what this living legend can do to bring back the glory days to Liverpool Football Club.