League results forced Dalglish out: Ayre

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre insists they had to sack Kenny Dalglish because results did not match up to longer-term expectations.

The Scot won the Carling Cup, the club's first trophy for six years, and reached the FA Cup final but an eighth-placed league finish resulted in Fenway Sports Group dismissing him after 16 months in charge.

"The most important element which isn't quite there is the football," said the managing director. "If you don't believe the results are right and feel 37 points off the champions and 17 points off Champions League pace is a long distance you have to make a change."

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