Werner: Work left to do for Reds

Published May. 14, 2011 1:48 p.m. ET

foxsports

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner accepts the club has achieved nothing yet despite the vast improvement in results since Kenny Dalglish took over.

Providing they fend off sixth-placed Spurs over their remaining two fixtures, Liverpool will qualify for next season's Europa League.

That would be a remarkable feat considering they were ailing in the bottom half and just four points above the relegation zone when Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson.

By handing Dalglish a three-year contract this week, the club's American owners have shown their trust in the 60-year-old to lead Liverpool's challenge for future honours.

But the club remains a work in progress, according to Werner.

"I think it's important we continue going in the right direction, but if we're climbing a summit my sense of it is that we're at base camp and have established a sense of stability," he told liverpoolfc.tv.

"We have a long way to go and we certainly don't want to over promise. I think the fans feel a new sense of optimism at the club but we haven't achieved anything yet.

"We are moving in the right direction and I do feel a sense of unity and I'm confident and optimistic about the future, but we certainly have a long way to go and so part of what my message would be to the fans is to continue to understand and be patient as we move in this direction."

Manchester United will clinch a 19th league title providing they avoid defeat at Blackburn on Saturday, placing them one above Liverpool on the all-time list.

There have been suggestions that, under Dalglish, the man who delivered Liverpool's most recent league title in 1990, the club will be ready to challenge the likes of United and Chelsea for Premier League honours next season.

And with director of football Damien Comolli set to oversee efforts to improve the playing staff over the coming months, it may be that Liverpool are indeed poised to be contenders for the title again.

But Werner said: "I think we want to manage expectations.

"We have work to do. I was talking to Damien earlier and he obviously has work to do to strengthen the squad this summer and we will not rest until we actually win some championships here.

"Do I feel we're going in the right direction? Absolutely. I think there's a sense of excitement and certainly there's a great buzz in Liverpool for the match this weekend.

"It's great to feel that because there is probably no place I'd rather be this Sunday than Anfield."