Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish believes that the critics of his management at Anfield need to take an "intelligence check".

The Reds have already lifted the Carling Cup this season and a home win against Stoke City later today will see them return to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final.

Despite their success in the cups, Liverpool are 10 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal in the Premier League table and are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League.

The defiant Scotsman is disappointed with criticism of the club's performance as he believes that they are making real progress.

"People should take an intelligence check. All we have said is we want to move the club ­forward. Everybody will have a different perspective and will move the goalposts to judge whether it's ­moving forward or not," said Dalglish.

"Whether it's points, ­position in the league, ­trophies or whatever, they are going to have their own agenda and how they ­define it. You can never get it 100 percent correct.

"The greater incentive is to finish high up the league, but whatever way you look at it, I think we are better off than we were 18 months ago. There is hunger now to play for and represent this ­football club with the ­respect it deserves."

Liverpool were boosted by a 3-0 Merseyside-derby win in midweek.