Dalglish: Proud Of Opening Day Performance

Kenny Dalglish believes Liverpool's battling opening-day performance against Arsenal has provided much encouragement for the season ahead.

Despite being reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time following Joe Cole's dismissal, the Reds turned in a valiant display against the Gunners.
David Ngog fired Liverpool into an early second-half lead and only a 90^th-minute own-goal from Pepe Reina prevented Roy Hodgson from marking his first Barclays Premier League game in charge of the club with a win - though Dalglish feels there are still plenty of positives to be taken.
"The players can be proud of their efforts against Arsenal," Dalglish told LFC Weekly.
"It reminded me a little bit of the performance last season when we went down to 10 men against Everton. Obviously we held out for the win that day and this time we were unlucky not to do the same.
"Before the game you could sense that the crowd were excited by the anticipation of a new season. It was the loudest I've heard them for a long time and the atmosphere inside Anfield was electric.
"It took a while for both teams to feel their way into the game but in the second half, despite being down to 10 men, I felt that everything came alive and we created more chances than them.
"Arsenal passed the ball well - as they always do - but we defended as a team. Rather than just prove that we didn't want to lose, we tried to force the game and that really impressed me."
Hodgson admitted afterwards Reina had taken his uncharacteristic error 'hard'.
However, Dalglish is convinced the Spanish custodian will continue to prove why he is rated by many to be one of the finest goalkeepers in world football over the coming weeks.
He said: "Pepe Reina will probably feel bad for the mistake in the final minute that resulted in Arsenal's equaliser but he shouldn't beat himself up. I'm not the only person who believes that he is one of the best 'keepers in the world at the moment.
"He has made so many match-winning saves for us over the last five years and I am certain all the fans will remember that.
"The stop he made from Tomas Rosicky in the second half was outstanding and underlined why so many people rate him so highly. He'll bounce back quickly because he's the kind of character that doesn't let anything affect him."