For a man who has been involved with some of Britain's biggest clubs as both a player and a manager during a 43-year career in professional football, it is remarkable that Kenny Dalglish's second spell at Liverpool will be best remembered who how often the Scot looked out of touch with the game.

While many may see his departure as a shock, attempting to identify exactly where it all went wrong for Dalglish could lead you down several avenues, emphasising the catalogue of errors he committed.

His insistence on not prioritising Champions League qualification ahead of the domestic cup competitions was the tip of the iceberg in Dalglish's miscalculation of football's current make-up.

For the club's first game in the Carling Cup, an August trip to then League One side Exeter City, Dalglish fielded eight of the fourteen players he used in the club's league game with Arsenal, during the visit to St James Park.

Carlo Ancelotti
Ancelotti has won two European Cups as a manager.

Arsenal, who finished third in the Premier League, in their first Carling Cup outing of the season played just two of squad that had featured in their previous league game at Blackburn Rovers.

While it's disapointing that trophies aren't appreciated in the same way that a top four finish in the Premier League is, it's an example of Dalglish not getting his priorities right.

Arsene Wenger, maligned for not having delivered a trophy for seven years, but who consistently ensures qualification for the Champions League, must feel vindicated amid the criticism he's received from sections from sections of the Arsenal support. At least he's cottoned on to the way modern football works.

If we're to believe Dalglish's defence of Damien Comolli following the Frenchman's departure in April that he hand-picked Liverpool's transfer targets, then that adds to the argument that the former Celtic manager was like a rabbit in headlights at the helm.

With the club's interest in Luis Suarez coming before the temporary appointment of Dalglish, and the relationship between the Anfield club and Nacional having been struck up by former director of football Comolli following the signing of Sebastian Coates, the remainder of the signings came from the English Premier League, a division familiar to the former boss.

And with his limited knowledge restricting the pool of players available to him, Dalglish floundered in the transfer market. While Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll's potential was unlikely to be realised in their first full seasons with the club, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing has produced memorable showings for all the wrong reasons.

The icing on the cake is the way Dalglish handled the Luis Suarez affair, and his blind ignorance to The Football Association charge and seemingly to how racism should be approached in this country. He was forced to apologise for his comments after February's meeting with Manchester United, post-match antics which only accentuated the club's dismal league form.

There's no doubt Dalglish's legacy and reputation inside the walls of Anfield hasn't been damaged by this disappointing 18-month spell, however from the outside, his tenure, littered with rude comments during interviews and spates of managerial incompetence has undermined his footballing authority.

The attention now turns to who can replace Dalglish for the long-term, with the likes of Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez and former boss Rafa Benitez currently heading the betting.

However, should Liverpool have ambitions of again reclaiming their place at the top table of English football, then employing a manager who has experience of having won the Premier League, while having also gained success on the continent would seem the most logical step. Dalglish was a straight and narrow appointment that hasn't worked; it's about time the club looked to progress.

Having won the Champions League on two occasions, and the Premier League and FA Cup double, Carlo Ancelotti would provide the ideal solution to Liverpool's problems.

His role with Paris St Germain could be no-more if the big-spending Ligue 1 side miss out on the domestic title on the final day of the season, and after that all roads could lead to Anfield.

It's obvious that Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group have plenty of rebuilding to do, not least with supporters, who have seen the club's greatest ever player sacked in his second spell as manager. To help repair the damage, appointing a strong manager, who can in the short term evaluate the squad and improve results, will be the first step to redemption.

Manchester United FC