Former manager Roy Evans calls on Liverpool fans to back Kenny Dalglish

Kenny Dalglish is 'heading in the right direction', says Houllier (AP)

Former Liverpool boss Roy Evans has urged Reds fans to get behind Kenny Dalglish and his faltering team over the closing weeks of the season.

Defeat by Newcastle on Sunday made it six losses from seven Barclays Premier League matches and left Dalglish's side in eighth place, 16 points off the top four and 34 points behind leaders Manchester United.

Liverpool have already secured a Europa League spot courtesy of their Carling Cup triumph and are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, but their poor league form has seen Dalglish come under pressure for the first time since he returned to the hotseat.

Evans, manager between 1994 and 1998, told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "You have to be positive. You have to stick together in times like this, from the players, to the manager, the backroom staff and the supporters.

"It is always a difficult time when you go through periods like this as a manager. Especially as, being manager of a club like Liverpool, you know what it means to the fans. They are suffering at the moment, and having a hard time of it.

"And they have every right to be critical. That is part of being a fan. But at the end of the day, Liverpool still have a chance of winning the FA Cup, to go alongside the Carling Cup.

"Kenny is not stupid, he knows that his team have not performed to their capabilities of late.

"The league position is not what anyone at the club wants it to be, make no mistake, but my message to the supporters would be to stick together, and try to stay behind the team for the rest of the season.

"Because the team, the players, the manager, they need fans' support at times like this."

PA