They say there is no such thing as bad publicity but it’s hard to agree when football constantly finds itself decorating the back pages for all the wrong reasons. On occasion the detrimental coverage is inescapable and unwarranted but more often than not, certain individuals are only too willing to provide the nation’s press with all the ammunition they need.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish arguably tops of the list of such guilty parties with a bullish and uncouth attitude towards journalists that creates an uncomfortable and graceless viewing experience. He has seemingly failed to realise the importance of a symbiotic relationship with the media, instead creating an ‘us against them’ mentality - that has worn thin even with Millwall fans - and kept the Anfield club firmly in the tabloid firing line.

I have previously voiced my opinion regarding why I think post-match interviews should be scrapped, seeing as how they only offer an opportunity to create headlines that detract attention away from events on the pitch. The players and staff that descend down the tunnel are running purely on adrenaline, having endured a gruelling physical and psychological workout. The last thing they want to do is wander into the clutches of a swarm of reporters, desperate to probe and force a reaction with a flurry of difficult questions.

Players can only find the strength to summon answers from the traditional catalogue of football clichés whilst managers are understandably highly-strung and incredibly emotional. This is where Kenny perhaps trips himself up as his unyielding allegiance to the club will see him jump to its defence at the first sign of criticism. His commitment, whilst commendable, means he’s often guilty of ‘tunnel vision’, failing to consider both sides of an argument and instead firing off a string of abrupt and defiant retorts.

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His recent interview in the wake of Liverpool’s last gasp victory at Ewood Park acts as the perfect case in point. Dalglish is clearly irritable the moment Sky’s Andy Burton begins speaking, almost waiting to undermine the questions that come his way. Having been prompted to give his reasons why he thought his side could win the game Dalglish questioned why he had to explain himself, seemingly forgetting the popular question-answer format of a typical interview.

Dalglish continues to look agitated throughout, pushing his tongue firmly in his cheek as he refuses to comment on the game's key discussion topics. After just two minutes Dalglish attempts to cut short the interview by pushing past Burton but finds his path blocked by the cameraman and has to make a hasty retreat. He deflects a question about the upcoming derby in the FA Cup semi-final and manages to sneak in a childish insult before making his exit. An all-together embarrassing series of events in which he could have simply conveyed his joy at grabbing an important 3 points and praised the match-winner Andy Carroll, who he failed to mention even once.

Dalglish is incredibly fortunate to have the unyielding admiration of the Liverpool support, especially as his antics have seen neutral fans develop somewhat of a distaste for the club. His comments only serve to invite unnecessary pressure that comes naturally to a club of Liverpool’s stature and has perhaps helped contribute to a number of unconvincing performances at home this season.

Of course Dalglish is not the only culprit, with almost every other manager in the Premier League being accountable for their fair share of rants, rudeness and walkouts. However, with Dalglish it feels like this is the default setting rather than a rare spectacle and his insolent approach may start to grate should results in the league continue to suffer. Liverpool need only look at Newcastle and their employment of Keegan/Shearer to remind themselves that such fairytale appointments aren’t always what’s best for the club.

Away from the pressure and stress of football management, Dalglish is often reported as a mild-mannered and charming individual. His press conferences for Liverpool TV are in stark contrast to those we see on mainstream platforms, which begs the question why Dalglish acts the way he does the moment a Sky microphone is thrust towards him. If Liverpool are to be allowed the time to re-establish themselves at the top of the table then it’s vital that Dalglish doesn't allow the club’s vision to be repeatedly blinded by the media spotlight.

Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where I’ll be deliberating who’s more likely to score in the FA Cup final, Carroll or Torres?