Dalglish calm over Reds future
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish revealed after the win at Sunderland that he has not started contract talks with the club - and is happy to wait.
The Reds took their tally under the Scot to 20 points from 10 Premier League games with a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light which leaves them four points adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have a game in hand.
They did so amid much speculation over Dalglish's future, but he is remaining relaxed as he plots the way forward on the pitch.
He said: "As regards the job, I have seen in the papers I have asked for four years. Well, I don't know who I asked.
"I saw that I was offered two (years) - I don't know who sent that in.
"Somebody said have I spoken to the owners - of course you speak to the owners, you speak to them regularly during the week.
"It's their club and they are fantastic owners and they are very supportive owners.
"But there have been no detailed discussions about next season, so until there is something that's to be said, we cannot make it up.
"Until there's something to be said, there's nothing.
"For me, that's not a problem. The football club has always been the most important thing bar one instance (the 1989 Hillsborough disaster), and that's why I left the job the last time.
"I don't have a problem. There is no pressure on anyone. I don't have a problem if it is in the best interests of the football club."
The case for Dalglish to be handed the job on a permanent basis was only strengthened at the Stadium of Light as his side banked another three points.
On an afternoon Sunderland will want to forget in a hurry, little went right for them with Sulley Muntari and Kieran Richardson limping off before the game was 23 minutes old.
However, things were to get much, much worse before long as John Mensah's error allowed Jay Spearing to race towards the box.
The Ghana international tripped Spearing and referee Kevin Friend blew straight away, and after consulting assistant Billy Smallwood, pointed to the spot despite replays suggesting contact had taken place outside the area.
Mensah, who would later be dismissed for a professional foul on Luis Suarez, was booked before Dirk Kuyt calmly dispatched the penalty to give his side a 33rd-minute lead.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who had earlier pulled off a good save to deny Kuyt, then denied Suarez and Spearing either side of half-time, but the Uruguay international secured victory with a powerfully-struck second 13 minutes from time.
The Black Cats enjoyed plenty of possession throughout the game, but Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina was a virtual spectator for much of it and did not make his first save of note until the 86th minute.
Dalglish, whose side bowed out of the Europa League in midweek, said: "There was a bit of dispute over whether the foul occurred inside or outside the box.
"From where we are, I couldn't honestly tell you, but if we have got a fortuitous one, then we have got a fortuitous decision in that instance.
"Overall, it was a great effort from our players."
Opposite number Steve Bruce was understandably upset about the penalty decision, although he admitted it probably would not have changed the result.
He said: "I have got no complaints about the result - it might not have affected the result, the way we played today.
"However, that was a really big, key decision for somebody 80 yards away - or 70 yards away at least - to overturn the referee.
"I knew and [fourth official] Martin Atkinson knew within five seconds that it was outside the box with the technology we have got.
"Surely it has got to be time for those sort of things to be brought into play with all the technology we have got today.
"But it was one of those horrible afternoons."