New manager 'galvanised the team and fans' says Carragher

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Jamie Carragher has hailed the galvanising effect Kenny Dalglish has had on the squad since taking over a month ago. Sunday's win at Chelsea was the Reds' fourth in succession in a five-match unbeaten run which has lifted them to sixth in the Premier League.

There has been a noticeable change on the pitch since the 59-year-old took over from Roy Hodgson, with performances, as well as results, on an upward curve.

Carragher believes that is mainly due to Dalglish, in his second spell as manager, as he has brought stability to all aspects of the operation at Anfield – especially among fans who had turned against Hodgson.

"What Kenny's done has got the club all as one; supporters are behind everything and it helps that the players and supporters are that together," said the defender. "It wasn't like that at the start of the season unfortunately for Roy Hodgson, but Kenny coming in has galvanised the supporters who are behind the team again.

"His record as a manager is fantastic, one of the top managers around, he's won four championships. But it's hard to put your finger on and say this manager is doing something different or that it's better. That's disrespectful but it's going well at the moment and so we'll enjoy that."

The winning run has helped ensure there has been no adverse fallout from the £50m departure of Fernando Torres to Chelsea.

Liverpool's new arrival Luis Suarez watched from the bench at Stamford Bridge while the club's record signing Andy Carroll has yet to feature because of injury.

Carragher insisted those two players meant the squad could look to the future and not mourn the loss of Torres. "Time will tell if we've come out of transfer window stronger and how we'll be talking about who got the better end of the deal," he told the Liverpool Echo. "For us, if Torres does well at Chelsea, good luck to him, as long as he doesn't play well against us.

"We've got to focus on what Carroll and Suarez can do for us, I'm sure they can be great signings. At Liverpool most games you're expected to win, so can't get too carried away as the standards here are so high."

The Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles was the match-winner with his fourth goal in five matches.