Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish believes a new era has begun after the unveiling of multi-million pound signings Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.
Liverpool paid Newcastle 35 million pounds for target man Carroll’s services on Monday’s dramatic transfer deadline day, while forward Suarez was brought in from Ajax for around 23 million pounds.
Dalglish’s side visits English Premier League champions Chelsea on Sunday, with the fixture made all the more mouth-watering as Fernando Torres faces his former club for the first time since his 50 million-pound move from Anfield to the Blues on the same day as the arrival of Carroll.
While Suarez marked his debut with a goal on Wednesday against Stoke, 22-year-old Carroll will have to wait to make his Reds bow due to a niggling thigh injury.
But the prospect of the 58 million-pound strike force is something that Dalglish cannot wait to see in action.
“Every day is a new era. The two lads are fantastic footballers and we’ll get them playing together,” he said.
“We’re really excited at the two lads coming in and playing for this football club.”
“They put their trust in us and they’re both determined and proud to play for us. They’re hugely respected and known footballers.”
And on Carroll’s injury – which has seen kept him out of action in 2011 – Dalglish said: “It’s going to be a few weeks and we’ll just have to see how it is but we’ve signed him for five and a half years.”
Torres is set to make his debut for Chelsea in the clash on Sunday and, while Dalglish revealed he was disappointed by the Spaniard’s exit, he is does not think it will affect Liverpool’s chances of leaving Stamford Bridge with all three points.
“Everyone was disappointed that he (Torres) left the club. But we’ll never put one person ahead of this football club and he’s playing for someone else now,” Dalglish added.
“They’ll look at us and see we’re on the up. We’ve won three on the spin with three clean sheets and we’re full of confidence.”
“It’s a difficult game. They’ve picked themselves back up after they went through a run of games where they couldn’t buy a victory but they’re back on song and playing well.”
“The responsibility is on Chelsea to push forward but we’ll compete as best we’ll possibly can.”
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher could be in line for his first start since the end of November, having undergone surgery for a dislocated shoulder.
“He’s delighted to be back. He’s a very strong character,” Dalglish said.
“He is very important in the dressing room and when he’s fit he’s important on the pitch.”