Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has spoken of his disappointment at the lack of Merseyside-born players making the leap to first-team action, saying Everton's Jack Rodwell is the only success story since Wayne Rooney.

Dalglish took on an advisory role at Anfield in the summer, which also includes working closely with the youth players at the Liverpool Academy.

"Since Wayne Rooney there's been one, I think, boy who you could say that was Liverpool born and bred who's gone on to be a consistent performer in the first team, and that's Jack Rodwell," Dalglish told Sky Sports News.

"And he comes from Southport.

"So it's not like the [Liverpool] academy has missed anybody that's gone on to be a fantastic success.

"You can't get a game for Liverpool's first team because of your birthplace. You can only get it by your quality.

"But if there is someone who's born and bred in Liverpool then it's fantastic for everybody. It's great for the club. It's great for the community. It's great for the lad.

"So that's what everybody would love to achieve and love to see happen."

Rodwell, 18, has been impressive for the Toffees at the heart of their midfield this season, and has already been linked with Premier League big guns Chelsea and Manchester United.

Liverpool currently have five players in their squad from Merseyside, who have made appearances for the first-team this season in Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Jay Spearing, Martin Kelly and Stephen Darby.