This the final nail for King Kenny of Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish’s bravado as Liverpool manager is increasingly looking farcical. Everyone is not convinced that Cup success is defined as the kind of goals a club like Liverpool want achieved in a season. And injury news this morning to one of his key players, someone he invested so much hope in, might be the nail in the proverbial coffin for King Kenny. Charlie Adam picked up a knee injury in the 3-2 defeat at QPR last week and tests showed lateral ligament damage. If Adam undergoes surgery, that will end for him a less-than impressive Merseyside campaign. Adam, 26, cost Liverpool close to £10million from Blackpool. That was the price Sir Alex Ferguson famously said just one of Adam’s corners is worth. He scored twice and that has been about it. In fact Liverpool fans will be alarmed that a player from Stoke uses the Kop as measure of falling football standards. Jonathan Woodgate was quoted in the British media today saying standards in the Premier League have dropped. The Stoke defender says the slump is underlined by the fact lesser teams are within striking distance of Liverpool. Woody, 32, said: "I don't think the standard is as good as it has been — you can tell because teams aren't too far behind Liverpool.” Kop flop Andy Carroll may find himself on the bench for the rest of the season. Liverpool welcome back Craig Bellamy, Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly for Sunday's trip to Newcastle. Bellamy has looked more likely to score than Carroll ever as. Carroll was quoted saying of Steven Gerrard: "I used to watch him when I was younger and pretend to be him on the field with my mates. "I'm very lucky to be able to share a dressing room with him now. It's unbelievable."