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Kenny Dalglish has defended his record during his second spell as Liverpool boss, claiming the team’s achievements were “beyond any expectations”.

Dalglish was sacked by Liverpool’s American owners Fenway Sports Group in May 2012 because the Reds finished eighth in the Premier League.

The Anfield legend insists winning the Carling Cup, which remains their only trophy since 2006, and reaching the FA Cup Final that season were more memorable than finishing fourth.

“Liverpool Football Club is massive and the support it gets is fantastic,” he said. “They had not won anything for six years when I got there, but we won something in our first season.

“What those boys achieved in 2012 was fantastic. To win the Carling Cup and to get to an FA Cup Final was beyond any expectations.

“People will turn around and say we finished eighth in the league, but how many points would you swap for three Wembley trips?

“Because of the cup runs, it was probably a reason why the league results were not what we had hoped for, but the lads were fantastic and that can only stand them in good stead.

“That League Cup was a trophy for Liverpool Football Club. I don’t see that as anything but a positive. It’s always pleasant to get a winner’s medal.

“For Dirk Kuyt, to have won his first medal at Liverpool Football Club after so long must have meant so much to him and to win a trophy at Wembley again clearly meant a lot to the fans.

“Nowadays it’s also a success to finish in the top four and get into the Champions League.

“It might be more rewarding to qualify in Europe after finishing fourth, but who remembers that game when you finished fourth to get there?

“Winning a cup final against Cardiff at Wembley and walking away with the Carling Cup was a day to remember.

“Yes, I would have loved to have finished fourth and I would have loved to have won the Champions League and won the Premier League, but it was never going to be achieved overnight.

“If you take short steps, you’ve got a chance and what we achieved was a positive move.”

Dalglish spent £60million the previous summer on the likes of Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam and says they needed more than just one season to settle at Anfield.

(Image: Andrew Powell)

“We signed seven new players and for Liverpool Football Club to try and assimilate so many in one season was a huge ask for the players,” he said.

“Some of those young lads at Liverpool are going to be really good footballers, but the club had never brought seven new players in before, who would all start at the same time.”

Despite his hurt at leaving Liverpool, Dalglish, who was a club ambassador before succeeding Roy Hodgson as manager in January 2011, says he would jump at the chance to return again in any capacity.

“I’ve always said that I’m happy to help Liverpool Football Club in whatever way I can and that hasn’t changed in any way, shape or form,” he said.

Click here for Kenny Dalglish on his dream of watching a Liverpool match from the Kop.

* Imagine spending time with the man officially rated Liverpool’s greatest ever player as he talks you through his career and shows you his favourite mementos. Kenny Dalglish My Life, on sale 25th September.