Soccer: Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has followed team-mates Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in publicly backing Kenny Dalglish for the permanent manager's job at Anfield. The Reds are up to sixth in the Barclays Premier League after a run of four successive victories under Dalglish, who succeeded Roy Hodgson at the helm in January.

The Scot, in his second stint as Liverpool boss, is on a temporary deal which lasts until the end of the season but club stalwarts Gerrard and Carragher have already indicated they would like Dalglish to stay on.

Asked if he agreed with those calls for the 59-year-old to be appointed on a full-time basis, Kuyt told Sky Sports: "I think you only have to look at the results and the mood of the players, and I have to agree with that.

"He is a legend, not only for the supporters, but also for the players. He has helped me a lot. We are really happy with Kenny so far. It has been really positive for us from the first day he came and he gave us a lot of belief.

"He said we were all quality players and that he was there to help us and that is really true. It has worked out very well with him and (new first-team coach) Steve Clarke and everything looks much better."

Liverpool took particular satisfaction from their latest win, Sunday's 1-0 triumph at Chelsea, for whom former Reds striker Fernando Torres was making his debut.

Kuyt admits the loss of Torres was a blow but he was pleased to get one over on the Spaniard at the weekend and is keeping focused on the future.

"It is very disappointing for all the players if one of the best players leaves the club, especially when it is Liverpool, which is a big club," Kuyt said. He has gone to Chelsea, but that is football and you have to move on. The response from us was very good and we were very happy to beat him. Now we just have to wish him all the best and hopefully we will do better."

Following his record-breaking €58 million move last week Torres appeared to claim Chelsea were on another level to Liverpool, something Kuyt hopes the Merseysiders will prove to be incorrect.

"He explained that it was difficult for him to say things right in a second language, as he comes from Spain," Kuyt said. "For me, what he explained was that he wants to win trophies now and he thinks he has a bigger chance with Chelsea. We can only say we hope he is wrong."

It's not all sweetness and light for the club, however, after quotes attributed to goalkeeper Pepe Reina appeared to suggest the Spaniard would consider a move to Old Trafford.

Liverpool fans will be hoping something has been lost in translation between an interview with Spanish radio station Ondo Seraand the British media.

"Yes, well (Man United goalkeeper, Edwin) Van der Sar will hang up his gloves in the summer so of course they are  looking," said the Spanish international. "I can't do anything. I can't say anything logically as I have a contract with Liverpool.

"Of course one likes to fight for titles and be in a team that does that. We always fought to be in the Champions League and try to win the title. But unfortunately it hasn't been the case in the last couple of years."

He added: "I won't lie, I want to play in the Champions League and challenge for titles."

while, the quotes are not damning, the Reds faithful could be forgiven for shifting uneasily in their seats on reading them, after the circumstances surrounding Torres's departure.

Liverpool have refused to comment on speculation linking Dalglish with Blackburn goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms, who was a player at Ewood Park when the Scot was manager there in the 1990s.