Liverpool midfielder Stewart Downing has praised the impact that manager Kenny Dalglish has had on the club.

The 27-year-old has been a regular starter for Liverpool since joining them last summer and believes that Dalglish deserves credit for the progress that the club has made since he took over.

"It must be tough for him with the players that he's got. When people are performing and he's got to pick an 11, it's difficult but that's part and parcel of being a manager and I think he's handled it really well," said the England international.

"By getting a trophy on board the club has done well and his status has gone up even more. I've enjoyed playing for him. Once I heard of the interest here, I wanted to come and play for him because of his reputation and what I'd heard of him.

"I'm enjoying it here and I'm sure he's enjoying it and winning a trophy will have given him a lift as well. Winning any trophy is good and once you get one, it gives you something to build on and I'm sure the gaffer and the staff will be stressing that to us."

Liverpool currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, five points behind sixth-placed Newcastle.