Liverpool losing their leader...

IS KING KENNY’S REIGN IN JEOPARDY AT LIVERPOOL?

I HAVE heard from reliable sources at Anfield that Kenny Dalglish has got one more season to get Liverpool in the top four of the Premier League - or he will be moved upstairs.

Of course, Liverpool would NEVER sack a legend like Dalglish - but he has much to do if he is to avoid becoming an ambassador for the club, or maybe a director of football.

It may seem ridiculous that a man who has landed the club’s first trophy in six years is under threat - and who may yet also land the FA Cup this season, too.

But that is the cut-throat name of the game nowadays.

The truth is this: most chairmen would rather finish in the top four and accept the Champions League spot that comes with it rather than win the Carling Cup.

And that is where Kenny faces a problem. He has done well in the domestic cups but has flopped in the league.

I agree with him that fatigue has played a part - as have injuries.

And I also accept that he needs a stronger squad. Which, in turn, means he needs more financial backing.

But Kenny has also been his own worst enemy at times. I won’t bother going over his approach to the Luis Suarez controversy again, save to say he was misguided and did himself no favours.

Yet I do believe he has messed up with two of his big summer signings, and that this has left him vulnerable.

Firstly, Jordan Henderson is simply not a £16million player. For me, he is a journeyman with little guile and craft and whose only real assest is that he can cover a lot of ground.

Secondly, Andy Carroll - well, the problem for me here is that Kenny stuck his neck out to buy him but now appears to have lost faith. My feeling is that Andy is still a class act - he was brilliant for Newcastle and for England when he has had the chance.

But, like all big men, he needs regular games to maintain his fitness and get to a peak. And Kenny is just not giving him them. The fact is this: when Carroll plays, Liverpool usually win - so trust the boy, Kenny, and I am convinced he will repay you.

Also, Kenny must improve his act when it comes to PR. He is THE public face of Liverpool FC and how he comes over on the TV reflects on the club.

He needs to be less defensive, less ready to rise to any supposed slight and more jovial and likeable. He needs to get the Press onside rather than antagonising them. And if he needs any help, I’d be glad to show him how to do it.

So come on Kenny - stop acting like a bitter old man who seems out of touch with modern-day football. You can be a king again - but it’s all down to you now.

SNOOKER
JIMMY’S WHITE ON
- EVEN AT 50!

I LOVE nostalgia and so when I learned that Jimmy White is making a concerted attempt to reach this year’s World championships at The Crucible, I was one of the first to cheer him on.

The man known as ‘the Whirlwind’ has not managed to qualify for the event for the last five years.

And that’s a real shame given his exploits and glory there in the 1980s and 1990s.

Jimmy will be 50 on May 2, and what a birthday prezzie it would be for him if he could celebrate it by starring at the Crucible in 2012!

Jimmy starred in six finals in Sheffield - but won none of them.

Now I know it’s pushing it a bit too far into the realms of fantasy to pray that maybe he also ends THAT jinx this year.

But wouldn’t it be a real fairytale ending - if the Whirlwind not only finally qualified again, but lifted the darned trophy!

It’s a dream - but then that is where sport often comes into its own. By making unbelieveable dreams come true.

Come on, Jimmy, you can do it - all your friends here at the Weekly Sport are backing you. As Clint Eastwood once famously said - ‘Make our day....!’

FRANKIE’S FLUTTERS

LAST WEEK I called it right again. Well, in terms of the result if not the score! Yes, I predicted that the big London derby between Chelsea and Spurs at the Bridge would end with honours even - which it did, in a 0-0 draw. I had predicted 1-1.

This week’s big footie match comes on Sunday when Newcastle entertain Liverpool in what looks a crunch encounter in the battle for sixth and seventh places in the Premier League.

The Toon have done better than anyone (me included) expected this season while Liverpool have gone off the boil of late due to injuries and fatigue. I am going to go against the grain - and predict that Liverpool will win. They are due a big result in the league and I can see former Toon idol Andy Carroll being well revved up for his return to St James’ Park. So it’s Newcastle 1 Liverpool 3 for me.

FRANK WORRALL

(For more information on Frank and his bestselling sports books, see www.frankworrall.com)

Weekly Sport readers can buy Frank’s insightful book on Sir Alex Ferguson for the special price of only £2.74 on Kindle (retail price £17.99 for the hardback)…go to http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Fergie-Wonderland-Biography-ebook/dp/B00603XJB8/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326291046&sr=1-7