Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish has come under pressure as his Liverpool side have won just twice in 2012. REUTERS

BBC pundit Alan Shearer has backed Kenny Dalglish to guide Liverpool to further success next season despite the club's poor form in the Premier League since the turn of the year.

The Reds have won just two league games in 2012 and are currently eight points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United, who they play on Sunday.

Liverpool have won the Carling Cup and are in the FA Cup semi-finals and Shearer remains adamant that Dalglish remains "the right man to take Liverpool forward".

"It's there for everyone to see that their league form has not been good enough, but if they go home with two cups then that would certainly be progress, and surely that is what it is all about for Liverpool at the moment?" Shearer, who won the title under Dalglish at Blackburn in 1995, told BBC Sport.

Liverpool travel to Dalglish's old side Newcastle on Sunday, having taken just eight points from a possible 33 since the turn of the year, and losing five out of six in the wake of February's Carling Cup success.

With eight games to go, Liverpool sit 13 points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham and face a challenge to overhaul Alan Pardew's Newcastle side, who have emerged as one of the surprise packages of the season.

"There is a big gap there and Liverpool are not going to get in the top four this season but it still could turn out to be a good one for them," said Shearer.

"You have to be careful in criticising Kenny. Liverpool entered three competitions this season and they could win two. If you were to ask an Arsenal fan which they would rather have, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup in the trophy cabinet or a finish in the top four, then that is a tough question for them.

"Of course Liverpool want both. Next season will be all about winning trophies and getting in the top four, because that's the size of club they are."