Kevin Keegan the player won the European Cup, was twice voted European Player of the Year, captained England and even had a hit record.

Keegan the manager revolutionised Newcastle, took England to EURO 2000, lifted Fulham to another level and has already overseen two of the most famous victories in Manchester City’s history – the 3-1 victory in Maine Road’s last derby and the extraordinary 4-3 FA Cup replay win at Spurs last week.

But football is a harsh business and happy memories like that will be far from the mind when Keegan takes City, without a win in 13 Premiership games, to Liverpool on Wednesday night where his fantastic career really started more than 30 years ago.

"Meeting Bill Shankly set my life up, no doubt about it," admits Keegan, whose passion for football is reminiscent of his legendary Scottish mentor.

"I had great respect for all the other people, like the guy who took me from non-League football to Scunthorpe and the people there who worked very hard. But Bill Shankly changed my life."

It was Shanks who gave Keegan a simple message before his home debut. "The people on The Kop make you feel great – and humble," he says.

Three decades on, that sentiment remains at the core of Keegan’s philosophy. He hailed City’s fans as their 11th man after the win against Spurs.

"The Kop did inspire me," he says. "I learned my trade in front of them and the six seasons I was there, we grew in stature as a club – not just in England but throughout the world. You can’t forget that lightly."

Even though he is happy to pay homage to the past, Keegan is a realist. Like Liverpool, his City side have to improve greatly to be compared to past glory days – and that’s what drives him forward.

"Golden eras pass through clubs from one generation to another. It is what Liverpool have to live up to now, it is a great club with great support but nobody has a divine right to stay on top of things and winning things," he says.

Four of Keegan’s players – David James, Steve McManaman, Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler – have used the home dressing-room at Anfield, while Joey Barton is also a Scouser.

To add to the connections, Michael Owen – nine games without a goal – played for Keegan with England.

"I don’t want to talk about Michael’s so-called goal drought. The same was being said last season before they played us at Maine Road – and he scored a hat-trick.

"Liverpool have missed Michael. It’s like Man Utd losing van Nistelrooy or Arsenal losing Thierry Henry. That would have a major effect on those teams.

"Michael is coming back now. It is our job to make sure he doesn’t come to life against us. I don’t mind his drought ending – in a couple of weeks after he’s played us!"

Keegan wears his heart on his sleeve and speculation about his future has reached saturation point, with the manager pointing out: "People are fed up with reading if someone is going to have a job next week."

But it’s clear he is planning for the future and though he may not be associated with defensive nous, Keegan is more enthusiastic about his new centre-half Daniel van Buyten than anything else.

"He had a tremendous debut against Birmingham. He is strong, aggressive and the best header of the ball we have at City.

"We looked solid defensively with him in the team. He is an international player, so he is not going to come into the Premiership and be phased by it.

"He has won 25 caps for Belgium and played for Marseille. He knows his way around a football field and has given us something to hang onto. A clean sheet in his first game is a good start."

As for the winless streak, Keegan has run out of words to describe City’s constantly bad luck.

"I can honestly say we could be fourth or fifth. But it doesn’t mean anything. Reality shows we are fourth or fifth from bottom.

"I told Arthur Cox I am sick of hearing myself say the same things – we are playing better than the results we are getting.

"So this week I haven’t said anything after Birmingham. We had a day off, went swimming and we know things will change.

"Confidence has not drained out of this football club at all – the players have not allowed it to drag them down."

Shankly couldn’t have put it any better.


What Shanks said

"A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe you are the best and then make sure that you are. In my time at Liverpool we always said we had the best two teams on Merseyside, Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves."

"If Everton were playing outside my front door, I would draw the curtains."

"My idea was to build Liverpool into a bastion of invincibility. Napoleon had that idea. He wanted to conquer the bloody world. I wanted Liverpool to be untouchable."

What Keegan said

"The ref’s shirt pocket was like a toaster. Every time there was a tackle, up popped a yellow card."

"It was an incredible comeback (v Spurs) and people will be talking about it long after I’m gone."

"Life is about people, pal."