Gary McAllister admits he's in firing line as pressure mounts on Liverpool boss

Gary MaAllister has joined the Liverpool coaching staff for the second time

UNDER FIRE Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers is hoping Gary McAllister’s second coming on Merseyside has the same effect as his first.

 

It’s harder to know which created the greater stir, the Scot arriving as a 35-year-old on a free transfer from Coventry or receiving the call 15 years later to join the Liverpool coaching staff.

No one can argue with Gerard Houllier’s decision to bring in the midfielder who quickly acquired legendary status as his two-year spell encompassed the 2001 treble of UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.

 

Now it’s his coaching powers which are under examination following the controversial summer decision to axe Rodgers’ assistants Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh in favour of McAllister and Sean O’Driscoll.

McAllister who has left the vast army of former Liverpool players and managers who have gone down the media path, admits he is now in the firing line with Rodgers and his charges following two straight damaging league defeats against West Ham and Manchester United.

Former Liverpool icons including Graeme Souness, Jamie Carragher and John Aldridge haven’t held back in their criticism of the current standing of the club. The noose is tightening around Rodgers’ neck.

McAllister insists it’s part and parcel of life at a huge club like Liverpool with its history and tradition of winning silverware.

 

“The last couple of games have not been great. They can’t be there to defend Liverpool. The guys on the TV who have been at this club and been greats at this club have got to call it as they see it.” he said.

“They want Liverpool to do well, there’s no doubt about that in my mind, but they have got a job to do.

“We’ve had a bad couple of results but we are only five games in. It’s not as if we’re half way through the season. As a player, and in my brief time in management and coaching, you tend to look at things after 10 games. We’re half way towards that.”

Apart from a back problem which caused him to miss the Europa League trip to Bordeaux on Thursday night – he’ll be in the dug out for today’s visit of Norwich – McAllister is enjoying the challenge of trying to replicate the success he experienced as a Liverpool player.

“It’s been an absolute whirlwind since I got the text from Brendan in the summer which I thought was a wind up.”he added. “I came into Melwood the following day, signed the deal that night and was on a plane with the chief executive Ian Ayre to Australia to join the pre-season tour.

 

Kop boss Brendan Rodgers is hoping McAllister's second coming will have the same effect as the first

“I’m an ex player who has the experience of winning at the club.  I’ve got a good relationship with the fans from the short time I was here and I will try and give them everything I’ve got  that I have learned over the years.

“When I first came south playing against the Liverpool teams of the eighties they were playing a brand of football no one else was capable of producing. Winning is what Liverpool did, certainly from players of my generation.  I would love to try and repeat it.”

Today’s game against Norwich is probably one of the most important during Rodgers’ stewardship.

He certainly can’t afford another 3-0 home defeat – the West Ham debacle fanning the flames of discontent which haven’t really died down since the end of season 6-1 battering at Stoke.

McAllister confessed: “We shouldn’t be losing 3-0 at home.  I am not looking to make excuses it was a bad day and that was followed by a poor day at Old Trafford (lost 3-1 against Manchester United) .

 

“We’ve got to take on board what went wrong and look to get that performance level up and get a few wins under our belt. We’ve got some home games coming up so it’s an ideal opportunity.”

After Norwich it’s Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday followed by the short trip to Goodison Park for a critical Merseyside derby.

“A couple of poor results and the pressure comes on.” McAllister stated.

But this is the time to stand up and be counted.

“This is what top players must thrive on.  It’s something that must drive you. That fear element is going to come but results in the next two games can stop the rot. Getting a draw in Bordeaux the other night ended a run of two defeats. Now you look to get a run of wins going.”he stressed.

“That is a philosophy which hasn’t changed and it’s been in the forefront of my mind for the last 10 days or so. But we are only five games in. I don’t see any panic. I can only say what I see on the training ground.

“Brendan knows the challenge, he knows the job. He has been here a few years. He knows what is expected. For a young man he has got experience, there’s no doubt about that. 

“He knows what it takes to get results in this league. He has proved it before. It’s up to us as his staff to give him that help. He will continue to play in the style he is known for - and a winning style.

“Like any human being you are always disappointed after a bad result. At some point the motivator needs to be motivated.”

McAllister only hopes he can help supply the Midas touch second time around.