EVER since Kenny Dalglish returned to the Anfield dugout, the Scot has been at the forefront of every Liverpool supporter’s mind.

It’s hard for him not to be. Even during this summer, his genial face adorned most public transport in the city. A five minute stroll through the centre rarely passes without seeing his gleaming smile imposed upon the side of a bus as part of the club’s advertising campaign.

Advertising aside, most Liverpool supporters have attempted to take their own break from football over the past three months - some with more success than others. There is, after all, the crumbs of transfer gossip to devour for those ravenous enough.

For many though, the emotion and energy expended during the season leaves them mentally drained; after nearly 5000 minutes of football, enough is enough. Football reached hibernation in the sleepy sunshine at Villa Park in May.

But it doesn’t take long. Next season’s fixtures are released and the twitch begins; a twitch that becomes stronger with each passing weekend. There’s only so much John Barrowman people can take.

And then, as you embark on another soul-destroying Saturday shop, there’s Kenny and his smiling face on his way to Huyton, Kirkby, St Helens. An electric shock to the senses. Memories start flooding back - Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge, the double over Manchester at Anfield and Suarez’s show at Craven Cottage. All of those with Kenny Dalglish as manager.

Realisation sets in. As hard as you tried, you never did take that holiday from football; the mere utterance of the word Liverpool on television or radio alerts ears, but as sigh quickly follows after no news of note. With Luis Suarez and Lucas Leiva at the Copa America, it was a busman’s holiday at best anyway.

While Liverpool tried to slumber, there was Kenny, going to Huyton, Kirkby and St Helens; to Sunderland, Blackpool, Birmingham and Rome; to Spain, France and Germany, reportedly.

Wherever Dalglish has been, the important issue is that he’s been. He was there playing a major part in the signings of Henderson, Adam, Downing and Doni; he was there on the first day of training, watching, noting, thinking, scheming.

The start of a league season can always be taken out of context. Media outlets hopelessly predict a club’s starting eleven, omitting one of last year’s best players and shoehorning all new signings into a poststructuralist 4-4-2 formation.

It’s easy for some to forget that it’s ultimately the manager who shapes the team in his vision and moulds players around it; it’s even easier to forget that the manager has been hard at work all summer.

That’s why those twitches in June and July were more vigorous, why those memories of last season so effervescent. That’s why Kenny Dalglish has never been far from anyone’s mind.

For all the talk about Henderson subscribing to the pass-and-move mantra, Charlie Adam’s set-pieces and Downing’s ability to cross, it’s what their collective purchases represent that pleases most.

For the first summer in years, the club is together, united and harmonious on and off the pitch. The manager has been able to bring in the players he wants for whatever price he wants. It’s in its early formation, but this is shaping up as Kenny Dalglish’s squad – not a squad of compromise and constraints.

All three are talented footballers, but more importantly, all three have been brought in with a clear plan in mind. All three give the squad something it lacks; all three are dedicated, conscientious professionals.

The football under Dalglish may have been magnificent at times, but what was constant was the direction he was taking the squad. Passing, movement and attacking football was infused with workrate, pressing and high tempo; it was evident throughout the squad, from Carragher and Kuyt to the more youthful Robinson and Flanagan.

With Henderson, Adam and Downing, and a possible return to the squad for Alberto Aquilani, the squad looks more refined now than the past 20 years. There’s quality both on the pitch and on the bench, with the Academy in Kirkby looking ever-promising, too.

Excitement cannot amalgamate with unrealistic expectation, though. Success and failure is too hard to define. That word context rears its once more, as does patience.

A few poor performances and results in friendlies elicited unreasonable responses. In games that were primarily about regaining fitness, signs of the new signings adapting to Dalglish and his managerial requirements were evident.

Champions League will be the squad’s target, but Manchester United and Manchester City have bought well, while Chelsea’s stars should be rejuvenated with Villas-Boas’ arrival. Arsenal, having been written off, will have a point to prove.

But no one forgets the way Liverpool played under Dalglish; how Suarez wrecked havoc, Kuyt scored freely, Lucas came of age and Maxi Rodriguez recaptured his Atletico form. Add that with the new signings, the returning Agger, Kelly and – eventually – Gerrard from injury and the options at Kirkby, and there’s much cause for excitement.

All Liverpool can do, and all Dalglish will want to do, is focus on Liverpool. The fact that Kenny has been afforded the opportunity to do that means the biggest battle has already been won.

Now onto other battles; battles the softly-spoken Scot will relish. Regardless of position or points total, the first full season of Dalglish’s reign will be one to savour; it will never be forgotten.

Nor will that smile on the side of the bus, mainly because Liverpool supporters will be seeing it every week in the dugout.