Dalglish delighted as new Anfield deal sealed

Weeks of speculation were ended when it was announced that the 60-year-old Scot had signed a deal to stay on, along with coach Steve Clarke, which had become a formality very soon after he took temporary charge in January.

That it took until the penultimate week of the season to finalise terms was of no concern to Dalglish, whose unveiling was deliberately kept low-key and formed part of his routine pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s visit of Tottenham.

As far as the man voted the club’s greatest player is concerned, a second spell as permanent manager is a duty and an obligation he has been waiting for almost since the moment he resigned just over 20 years ago.

There was no triumphalism or rash promises made, only a pledge to continue working to improve the club in the manner he has done since replacing Roy Hodgson four months ago.

“We are delighted it has gone as well as it has done. Steve is as important as I am to the club – we came in as a partnership and he has made a great contribution,” said Dalglish.

“For it to go so well has really been enjoyable for us.

“There might have been some people who were saying three or four weeks ago why is it (the contract signing) not happening but we were still going about our job.

“There has never been any problem with discussions or the timing. There was no need for anyone to dive in and make rash decisions.

“The place is much more stable now than it was before, the supporters have smiles on their faces and it is up to us to keep them there as long as we can.”

Director of football Damien Comolli, who in January had been charged with finding the next permanent manager, admitted he did not even start looking.

The Frenchman said such was the turnaround in results – only Chelsea have accrued more points than Liverpool since the turn of the year, which lifted the club from 12th to fifth – it was pointless considering finding anyone else.

The club’s principal owner John Henry said just working with Dalglish had been enough to convince him they had made the right choice.

“Since returning in January he has shown extraordinary leadership and the ability to bring the best out of so many people associated with the club,” he said.

“It was obvious to us very early on that the atmosphere had been transformed by his presence – no one else could have produced such a response.”