Over the weekend, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish publicly praised returning striker Luis Suarez, gushing that he is 'loved and revered' at Anfield. Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher aside, the last non-Liverpudlian player to receive such acclaim and adulation was (arguably) Fernando Torres, but legend Alan Hansen believes that Suarez has now eclipsed the Spaniard's popularity.

A few days ago, Mark Lawrenson argued that Arsene Wenger would probably 'fall on his sword' at the end of the season, especially if he failed to guide Arsenal into next season's Champions League. Liverpool legend Alan Hansen agrees with his former defensive partner, and believes the next 8-10 weeks could be the defining period of Wenger's reign.

Sir Alex Ferguson, January 31st 2012

"I noticed Alan Hansen was at it again, saying we had not played well for one and a half years. I reckon that comment goes alongside his claim a few years ago that you don't win anything with youngsters, and you know how he finished up with egg on his face after dismissing the Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Gary Neville crop of kids so foolishly.

Anfield legend Alan Hansen believes Jordan Henderson should be exempt from the criticism that is increasingly being levelled against Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's summer signings. Speaking to the BBC earlier today, Hansen expressed concern about the performances of Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll, but he was upbeat about the former Sunderland midfielder.

Anfield legend Alan Hansen is usually quite diplomatic when it comes to assessing Liverpool, but he didn't hold back when analysing the team's 'performance' against Bolton. Speaking on Match of the Day last night, Hansen shared Kenny Dalglish's disappointment:"When he [Dalglish] played at Liverpool, and when he was the manager the first time round, he would always encourage us to start quickly,

Former team-mates and current professionals were among the mourners who attended the funeral of former Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett.
The 46-year-old died on New Year's Day after a 16-month battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and Everton boss David Moyes were present at the city's Anglican Cathedral along with many of Ablett's team-mates – including John Barnes, Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson, Duncan Ferguson, Matt Jackson and David Unsworth – and other contemporaries from the 1980s and early 1990s.

By Greg Evans

Over the course of the past few weeks, the footballing headlines have read a little something like this: 'Henry comes of the bench to seal win for the Gunners'; 'Star striker Robbie Keane signs for Aston Villa'; 'Scholes goal spurns United on to victory', 'Carlton Palmer makes himself available for England Euro 2012 duty', etc , etc.

Any hopes we had of tiptoeing under the radar were swiftly punted into the Thames on Wednesday evening after every man and his lame dog in the days following declared Tottenham of Hotspur as genuine title contenders™. Alan Hansen, David Platt, S'ralex- even our own Heemskerk Howitzer, Rafael Van der Vaart, has pitched his tent in the side of ‘why the heck not'.

Any hopes we had of tiptoeing under the radar were swiftly punted into the Thames on Wednesday evening after every man and his lame dog in the days following declared Tottenham of Hotspur as genuine title contenders™. Alan Hansen, David Platt, S'ralex- even our own Heemskerk Howitzer, Rafael Van der Vaart, has pitched his tent in the side of ‘why the heck not'.

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes that Spurs are in with a great chance of winning the league this season, but argued that their title credentials are about to severely tested.Speaking to the BBC, Hansen seemed very enthusiastic about Spurs' chances of winning their first Premier League title.

LFC: Hansen: 'Let's take City advantage'

Alan Hansen believes Liverpool can take full advantage of a Manchester City side that will be without several key players for the first leg of the Carling Cup tie at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2012-01-10 14:53:30 from: Liverpool FC

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Mail: Sir Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish must end war, says Alan Hansen

Alan Hansen has called for Sir Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish to release a joint statement to ease tensions ahead of two potentially explosive meetings between Manchester United and Liverpool.

The Cold...

Is pissing off to the last degree. A few well-chosen hours of sunlight aside, the entire day in this remote corner of Rajasthan is as bone-chilling as watching Overmars running towards you at full-pelt. No central heating and no adipose have collectively ensured that that I indulge in glum sighs and sad smileys galore at the turn of the New Year.

For transitional fossil Kenny Dalglish, it is surely time to evolve.
Last nights racist abuse of Tom Adeyemi is purely the fault of the Liverpool Football Club.
Dalglish and his players are heroes to some very very stupid people.
These neuronically moronic pick up mass hysterias that allow them to shroud their inate fear and weaknesses with the misplaced sense of hyper-power that is racism.

By Alan Duffy

Erm, I guess bad things come in fours, not threes then. Coming swiftly on the heels of Robbie Fowler's innocent yet badly timed Lionel Richie 'black-up', Alan Hansen's 'coloured' remarks and the Luis Suarez case, comes news that Oldham youngster Tom Adeyemi was allegedly racially abused by Liverpool fans during last night's FA Cup game at Anfield (which the Reds won 5-1).

By Alan Duffy

Lionel Richie? I was going for Craig Johnston meets Bruce Grobbelaar...

This hasn't been the best of periods for Liverpool FC, certainly in terms of PR. With the club tying itself in all kinds of knots over the Luis Suarez affair, and then Anfield legend Alan Hansen getting lambasted for his out-dated use of the word "coloured", it's been a heck a few weeks for the club.

It's been a problem of Chelsea's ever since Jose Mourinho decided to drop Paulo Ferreira from that position back in the day. Think of the names we have had playing there: Geremi, Diarra, Del Horno, Bosingwa and Ivanovic and still no one has put down a marker and made the position their own.
Branislav Ivanovic did to a certain extent but was never truly happy playing there.

FA officials studying the video of Manchester City's 3-0 win over Liverpool have retrospectively awarded Martin krtel an imaginary three game ban following Roberto Mancini's persuasive waving of an imaginary card.

The Imaginary Appeal panel is set to meet on Thursday to imagine what punishment they imagine would be appropriate.

Alan Hansen's criticism of Chelsea has incurred the wrath of Andre Villas-Boas on more than one occasion this season, and the Liverpool legend has risked more bad blood by launching a stinging attack on Chelsea defenders David Luiz and Jose Bosingwa. Earlier in the season, Hansen accused AVB of being 'naive' in his tactical approach, and dedicated an entire column in 'The Telegraph' to

Following the un-timely death of former Liverpool title winning defender Gary Ablett (46), we've decided to track down the where abouts of the Merseyside clubs last title winning squad in 1989-90.

Bruce Grobbelaar (54): Liverpool's most famous keeper currently resides in Canada and sometimes appears as a pundit on Norwegian TV channel TV-2.

Hansen's tribute to Ablett

Alan Hansen has spoken of his sadness following the death of former Liverpool defender Gary Ablett.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2012-01-03 09:37:16 from: Liverpool FC

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Liverpool play Manchester City three times over the next month, and the given the club's great recent record against the top teams in the league, fans will be confident that Kenny Dalglish's team can get results in all three games. Anfield legend Alan Hansen isn't so sure though, and he's predicted that City will knock Liverpool out of the Carling Cup.

Alan Hansen 'devastated' by Gary Ablett death

BBC football pundit Alan Hansen says the death of his former Liverpool team mate Gary Ablett has come as a shock. Ablett, who is the only the player to win the FA Cup with both Liverpool and Everton, died at the age of 46 following a battle against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

• Kop That: Liverpool v Newcastle United: Andy Carroll, the sleeping giant, still struggling under weight of expectation http://t.co/N8rBtqFa 23:55:47, 2011-12-29
• Kop That: Top sport stories of 2011 http://t.co/5J7oUfdc 23:41:38, 2011-12-29
• Kop That: Sportsmail review of 2011: November http://t.

Alan Hansen's Premier League team of the year

Our columnist selects his Premier League first XI from past 12 months.

View the full story here: The Telegraph

A news article on 2011-12-28 23:00:58 from: The Telegraph

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Alan Hansen believes Liverpool's transfer policy in the past year has helped them enjoy a much more fruitful 2011 and will see them kick on again next year.
Like everyone else with Reds connections Hansen has been delighted with the progress the club has made since Kenny Dalglish returned to manage the club in January.

Hansen hails transfer policy

Alan Hansen believes Liverpool's transfer policy in the past year has helped them enjoy a much more fruitful 2011 and will see them kick on again next year.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-12-28 10:59:31 from: Liverpool FC

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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish declared that football required specific guidelines about what language was considered racist, at the end of a week in which his striker Luis Suarez has been dealt an eight-game ban and his former team-mate Alan Hansen has been engulfed in controversy over his use of the word "coloured.

Liverpool shirts supporting Luis Suárez 'shameful', says Paul McGrath

• Former Manchester United defender attacks decision • Liverpool players and manager wore shirts to support Suárez Liverpool's decision to don T-shirts in support of Luis Suárez 24 hours after he was found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra was described as "shameful" by Paul McGrath, while Alan Hansen, the club's former captain turned television pundit, issued an unreserved apology for describing black players as "coloured" on Match of the Day.

By Chris Wright

Alan Hansen has been forced to apologise after unwittingly referring to the black players affected by the ongoing Suarez and Terry racism cases as 'coloured' not once but twice on Match of the Day last night.

Hansen, who was making a point about the strides made vis-a-vis racial tolerance in the modern game, said:

"I think there's a lot of coloured players in all the major teams and there are lots of coloured players who are probably the best in the Premier League.

Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen apologises for calling black players ‘coloured'

The centre-back turned television pundit caused an internet backlash with his choice of words when discussing the racism controversies surrounding English football

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-12-22 11:14:00 from: Goal

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Alan Hansen apologises for Match of the Day race gaffe

Alan Hansen has been forced to apologise to shocked television viewers after making a racial gaffe TWICE during last night's Match of the Day.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-12-22 10:24:31 from: The Mail

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Alan Hansen under-fire after 'coloured' race gaffe on Match of the Day

Alan Hansen has landed himself in hot water after making a racial gaffe TWICE during last night's Match of the Day. The BBC pundit described black players as 'coloured'.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-12-22 09:03:33 from: The Mail

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Hot on the heels of Luis Suarez's 8-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra, Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has sparked fresh controversy with some ill-advised, racially sensitive comments on Match of the Day. When it rains, it pours... Following yesterday's news that John Terry would be charged by the Police for his alleged racial slur against Anton Ferdinand, Gary Lineker asked Hansen if he

Hot on the heels of Luis Suarez's 8-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra, Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has sparked fresh controversy with some ill-advised, racially sensitive comments on Match of the Day. When it rains, it pours... Following yesterday's news that John Terry would be charged by the Police for his alleged racial slur against Anton Ferdinand, Gary Lineker asked Hansen if he

Back in February 2011, the Guardian's 'The Gallery' humorously predicted Gary Neville's next career direction in response to the news of his imminent retirement. Unfortunately, he became neither a Tellytubby or an Egyptian rebel instead, replacing Andy Gray as the man tasked with analysing games for Sky Sports; and, boy, has he done it well.

Back in February 2011, the Guardian's 'The Gallery' humorously predicted Gary Neville's next career direction in response to the news of his imminent retirement. Unfortunately, he became neither a Tellytubby or an Egyptian rebel instead, replacing Andy Gray as the man tasked with analysing games for Sky Sports; and, boy, has he done it well.

"[Rio Ferdinand's] performance was nothing short of magnificent," announced Alan Hansen on Match of the Day 2 yesterday, before wheeling out selected clips for his analysis on what appeared to be Ferdinand's return to form (at one point, he put down a random pass to Wayne Rooney as good "anticipation" ).

"[Rio Ferdinand's] performance was nothing short of magnificent," announced Alan Hansen on Match of the Day 2 yesterday, before wheeling out selected clips for his analysis on what appeared to be Ferdinand's return to form (at one point, he put down a random pass to Wayne Rooney as good "anticipation" ).

Beleaguered striker Luis Suarez brushed aside his ongoing FA disciplinary issues to put in another excellent performance for Liverpool on Sunday, and Anfield legend Alan Hansen was full of praise for the Uruguayan.Speaking on to the BBC, Hansen was keen to stress the team aspect of the performance but he singled out Suarez - who hit the post twice - for special praise:"Liverpool played really