Dalglish in Champions League rallying cry

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish on Monday warned that last year's failure to qualify for the Champions League must not be repeated as the Premier League side launched their debut tour of China. Dalglish, who galvanised the Reds after taking over in January, also said he expects Steven Gerrard to be fit for the start of the new campaign, which he hopes will at the very least see a return to Europe's elite competition. "We never got there last year but we have to make sure this does not become a habit for the future," he said in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, where Liverpool are set to play a friendly against a local side on Wednesday. "We have fantastic players, they've trained really well and are sharp and fit." His side finished sixth in the English top flight last season after a woeful start. The friendly against Guangdong Sunray Cave will give Dalglish and his coaching staff a chance to see some of his new recruits, including Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, in action. The Reds bought the pair for an estimated combined fee of around 28 million pounds ($44.8 million) to stiffen the spine of the side as they look to mount a serious title challenge. But the manager said the introduction of the two central midfielders will not come at the expense of captain and club talisman Gerrard, 31, who has been sidelined since March with injury and did not make the China trip. "Steven Gerrard has been fantastic. He's just had surgery and is recovering well," Dalglish said. "He should be fit for the start of the season. "By not coming on this tour, he is giving himself the best opportunity to play in the season." The former Liverpool striker refused to be drawn on other transfer targets, but hinted at more movement in the transfer market, saying "there will be people coming in and people moving out. What will happen will happen." The Reds' first tour to China aims to tap the nation's massive football market and give the mainland's estimated 60 million Liverpool fans a chance to see their heroes on the pitch. Hundreds of fans greeted the players at Guangzhou airport on Monday morning and dozens more -- many in Liverpool shirts -- took pictures as the team arrived at their hotel. Liverpool will also play a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur on July 16. Dalglish, one of Liverpool's greatest ever players, had a previous successful spell as manager at Anfield between 1985 and 1991 before taking charge as caretaker in January after Roy Hodgson was sacked.