Could Martin O'Neill and Kenny Dalglish work for Liverpool?

Ten years after passing each other in the corridors of Celtic Park it seems very unlikely that Kenny Dalglish and Martin O’Neill could form a working relationship at Liverpool.

Dalglish is the early favourite to replace Rafael Benitez although he hasn’t managed for ten years.

After managing Liverpool, Blackburn and Newcastle United Dalglish took temporary charge of Celtic following John Barnes sacking with his own departure inevitable following the death of the ‘dream-ticket’.

Dalglish’s spell as Celtic caretaker ended with a 2-0 win over Dundee United on 21 May 2000 with O’Neill’s  revolution kicking off three months later with a 2-1 win over the same opponents at Tannadice.

O’Neill has quickly been linked with the Anfield vacancy but it’s impossible to see O’Neill and Dalglish, or any Director of Football type relationship working.

When O’Neill gets involved it’s all or nothing, it’s Martin’s way or no way. The former Celtic boss once remarked that he’d rather be dead than work with a Director of Football!

Earlier today Liverpool announced: “The Board has now asked Managing Director Christian Purslow, with the assistance of Club Ambassador Kenny Dalglish, to begin a formal search to identify and assess potential candidates for the managerial position.

“No timescale has been placed on the process and Liverpool FC will make no further statement until a new manager is appointed.”

Dalglish will take temporary charge of playing matters as well as being involved in the search for Benitez’s replacement.

Former players Ian Rush and Steve Nicol have been linked with a move to join Dalglish in the dug-out with the start of the competitive season two months away.

The sale of Liverpool has been on-going for over a year with the club’s ownership and debt issues likely to put off the sort of managerial names that Liverpool would normally be linked with.

The appointment of O’Neill would be a bold move but it’s hard to see the Aston Villa boss taking over a largely foreign playing staff without being given the sort of funds needed to transform the playing staff.

Liverpool’s financial position suggests that without a change of ownership the club won’t be competing at the serious end of the transfer market.

It’s never been documented if O’Neill and Dalglish ever spoke while briefly employed by Celtic but there was never any prospect of anyone other than O’Neill having an influence on footballing matters.

Chief Executive Allan MacDonald followed Dalglish out the door with Ian McLeod taking over before the job was re designated upon Peter Lawwell’s appointment.

On the park O’Neill was initially assisted by Tommy Burns and Marc Rieper before being re-united with John Robertson and Steve Walford once they had negotiated their way out of Leicester.

O’Neill’s relationship at Aston Villa seems strained with a glass ceiling hit after four seasons with Champions League qualification no closer. As Liverpool step into the spotlight over the coming weeks it’ll be fascinating to see the role played by two of the biggest figures in Celtic’s recent history.

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