Kenny Dalglish has no problem with Stoke City's direct football and insists ... - Goal.com

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is adamant he has no issue with the way Stoke City play football and believes their opponents are the ones who have to deal with it, with the Midlands side travelling to Anfield for a Premier League fixture on Wednesday.

Stoke have been one of the toughest sides this season in the league and lie in 10th position, and comprehensively beat Liverpool in the reverse fixture at the Britannia Stadium earlier this season – one of the first evenings in which the travelling Kop called for the return of Dalglish during the dismal tenure of Roy Hodgson.

The Scot admits that he may need to adjust the Reds' defensive line to reduce the threat from set-pieces, but refused to criticise the Potters' direct approach to football.

He told the club's official website: "I've always had to adapt to facing different styles as a manager. In my first time at Liverpool we had to play the likes of Millwall, who had Teddy Sheringham and Tony Cascarino and played a very direct game, or Wimbledon, who were led by John Fashanu.

"There is no definitive way of playing football. Stoke have as much right to turn round and say that Liverpool's principles or Manchester United's principles are wrong as the other way round.
Stoke play to their strengths and we should all get on with it.

"Whether it's Arsenal's passing style or Stoke's long throw, you have to try to deal with it and
combat it.

"And let's credit Tony Pulis with doing a good job at Stoke.

"It's common sense for a manager to select a style that suits his players."