• Premier League

Dalglish coy on Gerrard return

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists the club will not react to their 4-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham by rushing back Steven Gerrard from his injury lay-off.

Gerrard, 31, last featured for Liverpool in March, having undergone a groin operation and then suffering a setback with an infection in his rehabilitation during pre-season.

The influential midfielder has targeted the Reds' midweek Carling Cup clash against Brighton & Hove Albion to make his return, but Dalglish refused to confirm that Gerrard would make an appearance immediately after the loss to Spurs.

"He's fine," said Dalglish. "We'll try to get over this before we start worrying about something else. I've said all along, he's done fantastically well to get where he is. We'll just monitor him and pick the right moment for him and us before we get him back.

"It's natural everyone wants to chase for Stevie, especially after you have lost 4-0. But we'll monitor it, take it how it goes and when both parties agree he'll play."

The Liverpool boss admitted his players were left hurting after suffering their second defeat of the season, but believes the club will remain in title contention through what he predicts will be a close Premier League campaign.

"It's not difficult to be upset when you have lost a game. The boys are upset too and so they should be. If they weren't they wouldn't be here. The football club expects more than a 4-0 defeat when you come away from home.

"It will be a tight league. You can see that from the way it has started. It is tight for everybody. Everyone is capable of picking up points wherever they go," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.