Kenny's Newcastle verdict

Goals from Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt (penalty) and Luis Suarez secured a comfortable victory for the Reds to move them up to fifth place in the Barclays Premier League table.

Liverpool are now level on points with Tottenham Hotspur having played a game more, though they leapfrog the Londoners due to a superior goal difference.

And with Spurs still to visit Anfield before the end of the campaign, the prospect of the Reds clinching a top-five finish is a distinct possibility.

Dalglish told his post-match press conference: "It was a difficult day for both sets of players as it was really hot.

"After we took the lead, they put us under pressure with set plays and crosses, but I thought we coped very well and in the second half we tightened up a wee bit and caught them twice for two goals. I think we deserved to win, but it was a difficult game for us.

"I didn't expect to get a stroll in the sunshine. They have been playing well of late and got a good 0-0 draw with Manchester United at home.

"With the Andy Carroll factor maybe it added a wee bit of spice for them, but we won 3-0. It was a tough game for us, but I think we were deserving winners."

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Dalglish added: "We'll just keep going and see what we get. It's great reward that we've got to where we are in this particular moment in time and it's because of the way the players work.

"They do ever so well in training and bring that onto the pitch. The passing and movement has been better than what it was today, but the determination and effort was the same as it has been in most of the games, so they'll get their reward if they keep doing that - but we won't know what that reward is until the end (of the season)."

Dalglish has revitalised Liverpool's season since returning to the hot seat in January.

However, the gaffer remains eager for the players to take the credit for their resurgence.

"They're the ones who do the work and they're the ones who come into training," he said.

"They have to have belief in what they're doing and desire in doing what they want to. We'll encourage them as much as we possibly can and point them in the right direction. They deserve a whole lot of credit."

One reporter asked Dalglish if he had considered where Liverpool would stand in the Barclays Premier League table had he assumed control earlier in the season.

He responded: "I would rather the 'What if?' was if I have never took charge because it would have meant they (the players) were doing a lot better than what we were, still have had the same run and the club would have been more successful than what it is at this moment in time. That's the 'What if?' for me."

Liverpool were made to work hard for their latest success by a spirited Newcastle side, but the second-half performance of Suarez played a key role in determining the outcome.

The Uruguayan striker first won the penalty that allowed Kuyt to score, before finding the back of the net himself with a well-taken effort.

Dalglish said: "He is always getting in there and Luis is always a threat. It fell kindly for him in the box and he stroked it away, which is good for him. It was just reward for the work he put in.

"He's a good person. He's bubbly and just loves playing football. For the style he is, both as a player and a person, I don't think he'd find it difficult to fit in anywhere. That's great credit to him.

"Obviously he will miss a lot of pre-season because he'll be away with Uruguay at the Copa America, but he'll be the same next season. Exactly the same. He comes into training every day with a smile on his face."

Dalglish made just one change to the team that had started last Saturday's 5-0 thumping of Birmingham City at Anfield, with the fit-again Glen Johnson replacing Jack Robinson.

He said: "Apart from Glen, the team won 5-0 last time. You would be a wee bit unfortunate if you're not playing after a 5-0 (win).

"Obviously for Jack Robinson, he's 17 years of age and we've got an England international (back), so I think that's reasonable - and I think Jack understands that it's reasonable too.

"The boys that were playing today from the start were coming off the back of a 5-0 victory, so it's not as if you're throwing in novices, is it?

"The two lads (Flanagan and Robinson) have come in, and Jonjo is also getting back to fitness. We keep throwing him on at left-back to see if he's like Roberto Carlos or not! He's got a great attitude.

"As we've said before, we care for the players that are injured - but the most important ones are the ones who are fit and can be picked to play."

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One journalist quizzed Dalglish about his decision to switch Flanagan to left-back in the second half after he had collected a booking in the first period.

"I think he won the test against Gutierrez, and against Barton, and he made the first goal," said the Scot.

"We moved him over because we thought it would be better for Glen to be on the right side, and it worked out well for us.

"But Flanno has done brilliantly and surpassed all of our expectations. It's a great to credit to him. He's not fazed - he got booked, but he kept trying, kept playing and he's been a great asset for us."

With Liverpool three goals to the good, Dalglish opted to bring Andy Carroll off the bench with 20 minutes remaining after the striker recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of last week's 5-0 demolition of Birmingham City.

"We never made our mind up (about his involvement) until we knew he was fit," explained the manager. "He can't play if he's not fit.

"He's only had a couple of day's training, so it was best for us to start with other people than Andy. But Andy's here for five years and will get plenty of opportunities to play games.

"We've got to try and help get him back to fitness. The 20 or so minutes he got today will have helped him."

It was the first time the No.9 had faced his former club since swapping St James' Park for Anfield in January, and was subjected to a chorus of boos from the visiting support when he entered the fray.

Dalglish said: "I think when he goes to St James' next year, he'll get it again - I don't think it will be put to bed, will it? He's a young boy but he's got broad shoulders."

It was also a landmark day for Jamie Carragher, who went joint-second in the club's all-time appearance makers list with his 665^th run out.

It puts him alongside Kop legends Emlyn Hughes and Ray Clemence - though he still has some way to go to catch Ian Callagan's record of 857 appearances.

Dalglish joked: "He's only about 596 short (of Ian Callaghan)! I don't know what the difference is between the ages of Carra and Callaghan when they started playing. I think Carra was maybe 17 or 18 when he made his debut, so he's not too far behind."

Meanwhile, Dalglish confirmed Liverpool remain unsure if Martin Kelly will figure again this season as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

Elsewhere, the Reds boss was asked by reporters for his opinion on goal-line technology.

He said: "I don't know why everybody is so stubborn against it. If competitions are that important, then you deserve the best you can get to give decisive decisions. You can't have it all over the pitch, but for goal-line technology I don't know any reason why it can't be there."

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