Former Liverpool star tips surprise candidate to lead the Reds to success

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Gary Gillespie believes it’s important for Liverpool to keep their defensive discipline…

Former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie believes that Kolo Toure will play a crucial role in leading his team to success during the second-half of the season.

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Toure is likely to start his second successive game since returning from the African Cup of Nations earlier this month, when the Reds face his former club Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.

Having led Ivory Coast to glory, Gillespie believes that Toure is now ready to help lead Liverpool to a top four finish and a place in next seasons Champions League.

He told our official website: “You can’t speak highly enough of the fella, as every time he is called upon by the manager to come into the team after a long absence he has done exceptionally well.

“Credit where credit is due. Earlier on in the season when he came into the side along with Lucas [Leiva], they performed fantastically well – and that was the time that Liverpool started to pick up form, so it just shows you the experience and the leadership qualities Kolo has.

“He has that experience to know when to do the right things and he is certainly doing the right things at this moment in time.”

Gillespie, who played 156 league games for us between 1983 and 1991, believes that Toure’s experiences will be invaluable at such a crucial point in the season, with Brendan Rodgers’ side also chasing success in the FA Cup.

With Mamadou Sakho injured, and with Emre Can having made the move to midfield, Rodgers is likely to have little choice in continuing with both Toure and Dejan Lovren at the back alongside Martin Skrtel, but Gillespie feels that the Ivorian’s inclusion will prove to be a big plus point.

He added: “We have got to the stage now where you are going to get one or two suspensions and injuries, so it’s vitally important you can utilise your whole squad.

“For me, his experience will be vital. He has been at top clubs before like Arsenal and Manchester City and he knows what it’s all about at the business end of the season. It’s not just Kolo, because every player will be important for Liverpool in the run-in.

“Any time a sportsperson, whether it be golf or rugby or any team sport, plays with a smile on their face, it brings the best out of you. You are relaxed and you can perform at your best and he is just one of those nice guys. I don’t think anyone would have a bad word to say about him.

“I’ve seen a lot of interviews with him on LFCTV and he is always accommodating and he always has something to say with a smile on his face.”

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