• Liverpool manager restates faith in misfiring striker
• Scot plans no new additions before transfer deadline
Kenny Dalglish has denied Liverpool's interest in Carlos Tevez has created a problem between the club and Andy Carroll and said his faith in the squad means there should be no repeat of last January's remarkable transfer deadline day at Anfield.
The Liverpool manager refused to comment on whether Carroll was offered to Manchester City in a straight exchange for Tevez, an offer that sources have confirmed was made in a telephone call to City's football administrator, Brian Marwood, last Thursday and was done without the knowledge of the England striker or his representatives.
Despite Marwood dismissing the deal out of hand, Liverpool would relish the chance to sign Tevez before the transfer deadline, albeit in the unlikely event that City drop their long-held stance that the Argentina striker will not be allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium on loan and agree to pay part of a weekly wage that exceeds £200,000.
Liverpool signed Carroll and Luis Suárez for a combined £57.8m and sold Fernando Torres to Chelsea for £50m on deadline day last January but, despite hoping for a dramatic change in Tevez's situation with City, Dalglish is adamant there will be no repeat drama this year. "There's nothing happening and I don't anticipate anything happening either. That does us fine," he said. "Last year was a bit manic but there will be nothing at all. There's no need for us to pass comment on anything that's been speculative in the newspapers. The only thing that might be happening is the young boy from Wrexham [goalkeeper Danny Ward for £100,000]. But that's for the academy, not us." The Ward deal went through after Dalglish had spoken.
Carroll has been linked with a return to Newcastle United as well as with City in this transfer window and stressed his desire to remain at Anfield after Saturday's encouraging performance in the FA Cup defeat of Manchester United. The striker's camp is said to be unimpressed with revelations that someone at Liverpool proposed swapping Carroll without their knowledge but Dalglish, who has consistently supported the 23-year-old since his arrival 12 months ago, does not believe it has caused a rift.
The Liverpool manager said: "We don't have any problem with any of our players because nobody is going anywhere. Just read what Andy said this morning. He said he's very happy here. He doesn't regret coming here. That's the best reference you can get."
Following last week's Carling Cup semi-final victory over City, an aggregate win inspired by the former City player Craig Bellamy, Dalglish commented: "Craig was unbelievable. If Manchester City have anyone else that they don't want they know where we are." Liverpool are disappointed the Carroll-for-Tevez inquiry emerged days later and, while not accusing City directly, Dalglish said it was not his club's responsibility to justify the link.
He said: "We don't need to comment. We've said what's going to happen and it's nothing, so that's us. We don't need to get involved to justify what people have said. Ask them to justify it, not us. I am not talking about any specific incident but if you are going to do business in any way, shape or form in whatever life it's in, you don't disclose it until it's done, do you? As we've said before, and [the chairman] Tom Werner said, there's no point letting the facts interfere with a good story. They said we bought Stewart Downing off YouTube. Do me a favour."
The City manager, Roberto Mancini, was unaware of Liverpool's approach as it went no further through the City hierarchy than Marwood, who would have reported the offer to the Italian had there been an interest.
"I never heard of this," Mancini said on Monday. "Carroll is a good player, he is young and strong but it would be difficult and I don't think [it is going to happen]. There was no phone call to me. I don't know if Brian Marwood was involved. I just read it in the newspaper. I didn't speak to Marwood about this. My opinion about Carlos is that it is important he finds a good solution because he can stay for a year without playing. It is important that he plays, he is a top player. At the moment no because we have not talked about this with Liverpool. This is a new one for me."
Dalglish has long maintained there will be little transfer activity at Liverpool this month and, with a place secured in the Carling Cup final, United beaten in the FA Cup and Champions League qualification still possible, he says the stance confirms his faith in the Liverpool squad.
"We said many times when the window was shut that we were pleased with the strength of the squad," said the Liverpool manager, who has Steven Gerrard available for Tuesday's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, although the captain may be rested after a demanding schedule. "This is an endorsement of what we were saying three or four months ago. We're happy with them. We have got a lot to play for. The season is in front of us."