Dalglish happy with progress - ESPN

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish was happy with his side's performance after securing a 3-0 win over his former club Newcastle United.

ESPN Extra Time

"After we took the lead they put us under pressure with set-plays and crosses but I thought we coped with it pretty well,'' said Dalglish. "Second half we tightened up a bit and we caught them twice for two goals and I think we deserved to win but it was a difficult game for us.

"I didn't expect to get a stroll in the sunshine, we knew they would come here.

"With the Andy Carroll factor as well it maybe added some spice for them. I don't think it (the abuse) will be put to bed. When he goes to St James' next season he will get it again. He is a young boy but he has broad shoulders.''

Dalglish said after Carroll's injury, and the team's performance last week, it was difficult to start with the striker.

"He's only had a couple of days training so it was best for us to start with other people,'' he added. "He is here for five years so he will get plenty of opportunity to play games and we will help him get back to fitness and the 20 minutes at the end will have helped him.''

It was Carroll's fellow January arrival Suarez who again took the plaudits, with Dalglish expressing his delight at the form of the 24-year-old.

"Luis is always getting in there and is always a threat and it fell kindly for him in the box and he stroked away,'' the Scot said of the forward's third goal for the club. "It is just reward for the work he put in on the pitch.''

The win moved Liverpool above Tottenham into fifth and in position to qualify for the Europa League. Dalglish, however, tried to play down suggestions they could catch Manchester City in fourth.

When it was pointed out the Champions League was not out of reach the Reds boss said: "Neither is the bar but I'm not going to get there right away. We will keep going and see.''

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew felt Joey Barton's miss seconds after the interval ended up having an influence on the rest of the match.

"I thought the second goal was crucial in the game,'' he said. "We took the game to them after the first goal but couldn't quite find a moment in the box before half-time. We had a good chance with Joey (Barton) just after half-time and I would expect him to score that.

"If we had scored that would Liverpool have been able to break out of the slumber we have got them in?''

Pardew also felt his side were harshly done by with the penalty award.

"Unfortunately for us Mike Williamson made a mistake which cost us the second goal, albeit outside the box by the looks of it,'' he added.