Dalglish reaching the end of his tether with Liverpool flops

Kenny Dalglish seems fed up with his misfiring Liverpool side

You'll never walk alone is not just Liverpool's anthem. It's their motto; it defines them.

They win as one and lose as one, but they never walk alone.

So for Kenny Dalglish to come out and publically slate his players after their 3-1 surrender at Bolton on Saturday, that shows you something is wrong.

Dalglish has reached the end of his tether as he has seen his side's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League slowly slip away.

Since returning to Liverpool as manager a year ago, the Scot has criticised his players about as rarely as Mario Balotelli has had a controversy-free week.

But after the defeat at the Reebok Stadium, Dalglish questioned their attitude, respect and approach and it is clear the pressure is getting to him.

A top-four finish is a must for Liverpool this season after the huge amount spent in the transfer market by owner John W Henry, and Dalglish is right to point the finger after a string of unconvincing displays.

He must take much of the blame himself, of course, as he is failing to get the best out of his players, most notably Andy Carroll.

The style of football Dalglish is implementing is not suited to Carroll, who needs regular service from the wings if he is to make an impact at Anfield.

Carroll's link-up play was improved at Bolton, but there is no chance of him returning to the levels he reached at Newcastle unless Dalglish plays to his strengths.

Carroll marks Dalglish's biggest mistake of his second spell at Liverpool, with the £35million spent for him last January looking preposterous given his performances in the last 12 months.

The likes of Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson also look like expensive mistakes, although Dalglish would never criticise either of them individually in public.

In that sense, the manager has stayed true to the Liverpool motto but it is clear that, privately, certain players are close to the edge.

Dalglish has suggested some players could be sold quickly if performances continue to slide, but to sell the likes of Carroll or Downing would be a humiliating climbdown for a man who has invested so much money and faith in them.

He has had some success in the transfer market, with Jose Enrique and Craig Bellamy the Reds' standout players this campaign, but overall Dalglish must look back on his dealings with regret.

His new-look side sit seventh and have recently performed meekly in the league in the absence of the suspended Luis Suarez.

Suarez's eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra, coupled with Liverpool's handling of the situation, cast a huge shadow over Anfield

They have enjoyed success in the Carling Cup but look an extremely poor side without Suarez, who cast a huge shadow over Anfield with his suspension.

The Bolton loss may prove to be a tipping point for Dalglish, whose players are now surely playing for their futures.

Failure to qualify for the Champions League would be a disaster for everyone connected with Liverpool, and everyone's future would then come under question, including Dalglish.

Dalglish is still revered in God-like status among Liverpool's fans but he has spent over £100million and the club seem no nearer to challenging the best than they did in the days of Rafael Benitez.

After their recent run of form, Dalglish may now feel inclined to backtrack on his prediction of a "quiet" January transfer window, but whether the club's hierarchy would trust him with more millions remains to be seen after his transfer failings.

Dalglish's pride is another issue. Would he be willing to give up on his expensive flops? Would he risk his reputation even more with extra expensive signings?

He may have to swallow his pride. Failure to do that may just cost him his job in the long run.

Liverpool's team is simply not good enough, especially without Suarez.

The Champions League is increasingly looking like a distant dream and without some more significant outlay, that dream could become impossible.

Then Dalglish's flops would truly have to walk alone.