• Premier League

Dalglish wary of lower-league clubs in Carling Cup

ESPNsoccernet staff
August 24, 2011
Kenny Dalglish celebrates Liverpool's win over Arsenal © Getty Images
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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish hopes to avoid a repeat of the club's shock exit from the Carling Cup last season, as they prepare to face Exeter in the second round of this year's competition.

The Reds - managed by Roy Hodgson at the time - suffered elimination at the hands of a lower-league side in the third round a year ago when Northampton triumphed in a penalty shoot-out at Anfield.

Dalglish has confirmed he will make changes for the tie this evening following Saturday's 2-0 Premier League victory at Arsenal. However, the Scot is mindful of what happened against the Cobblers and insists neither he nor his team will be taking their League One opponents lightly.

"We want to do the very best we can in this competition and although there will be some changes in the personnel we put out, the attitude should be exactly the same as it was on Saturday at the Emirates,'' Dalglish told www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"We'll give people an opportunity to play. The training has been superb, as has their attitude and commitment, so they deserve a game. But it's not a game we just want to go through the motions for and fulfil our obligations in playing the fixture - we want to make sure we have a chance.

"We're not getting them [other players] involved because we're undermining the competition or we're undermining the football club at Exeter. We had a bad result last year against Northampton at home, and we'll do our best to avoid another bad result."

Dalglish took over from Hodgson in January to begin his second spell in charge of Liverpool, and the team's results have improved markedly. The Reds are looking to reclaim a place in the top four this campaign, although Dalglish is keen to keep things in perspective after the Arsenal win.

"This time last year there was a lot of disappointment because the club hadn't started so well," Dalglish said. "Fortunately we've changed a little bit - but let's not get carried away or be running before we can walk. Let's just take our time.

"The boys were brilliant at Arsenal on Saturday, but we're not going to get carried away with one result - and neither should anybody."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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