Not revenge: Roy Hodgson got West Brom's first
win in 45 years to the day since Albion's last Anfield
victory.
Kenny Dalglish's Barclays Premier League nightmare
at Liverpool suffered another demoralising blow as Roy Hodgson
returned to haunt his old club.
The West Brom manager made his first trip back to Anfield
since being sacked in January 2011 and Peter Odemwingie's
75th-minute goal secured a 1-0 win - 45 years to the day since
Albion's last Anfield victory.
It leaves Liverpool 37 points behind leaders Manchester
United.
'It is always enjoyable to win even if you need a bit of
luck on your side to achieve it,' said the West Brom
boss.
'Forty-five years is a long time for a team like West Brom
not to get a result at Anfield.
'Maybe this result was written in the stars because with
the last win being 45 years ago to the day maybe there is an
element of fate about it.
'We know how difficult it is to get results here but
another hoodoo is laid to rest and I thought it was a very
determined effort from our players.
'The major satisfaction is winning at Anfield. With the
team we have I don't think most people expect us to come and win
here.'
In the build-up to the game Hodgson had said he thought he
would be given a difficult time by the Anfield crowd, who never
took to him during his short spell in charge, but there was no such
response.
'I was very pleased by the reception and I thank the
Liverpool fans for that. It was very courteous of them,' he
added.
'I would have been disappointed had it been otherwise as I
have a lot of respect for Liverpool fans but it was nice they
showed that courtesy to me and I appreciate it.'
Liverpool dominated throughout and should have had the
match wrapped up well before Odemwingie capitalised on a defensive
mistake by Glen Johnson.
Boom: Peter Odemwingie's goal was the latest blow
Liverpool have taken
Dirk Kuyt and Jordan Henderson were both denied by
the woodwork, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll had numerous
opportunities while Maxi Rodriguez had appeals for a first-half
penalty turned down.
Hodgson felt awarding a spot-kick for Billy Jones'
challenge would have been wrong but he accepted his side had ridden
their luck.
'It wasn't a penalty. I can categorically state that was
not a penalty and that is not just with a West Brom hat on, that is
with a football lover's hat on,' he added.
'The players showed a lot of commitment and effort and we
were grateful to a lot of blocks and saves from our
goalkeeper.
'And when those two things didn't work we had a bit of
luck on our side with balls hitting the post or the goalkeeper in
the face when he knew nothing about it.
'There was a little bit of luck there. We created two good
chances in the first half which were foiled by two good Pepe Reina
saves and in the second half we created a lot less and ended up
scoring a goal.'
Boo hoo: Luis Suarez cries foul
For Kenny Dalglish, the man who replaced him at
Anfield in January last year, it was like watching repeats of
previous performances.
Liverpool have won just five times in 17 home matches and
tales of missed chances have become all-too commonplace for the
Scot.
'It's not just been one of those days; it's been like that
seven or eight times here,' he said.
'There's not much else that we can add to what we've said
before so many times after a game at Anfield.
'I think you could go back over the old interviews and
it'll be the same thing.
'They just need a bit of luck I think. It sounds
repetitive but it's not an excuse.
'We're not running away from something. It's not as if
there's something drastically wrong that we can't
identify.
'It is just a piece of good fortune that we
need.'
