EXCLUSIVE By
Ian Ladyman
Tied up: Hodgson has received backing from senior
players despite Liverpool's woeful start
Steven Gerrard and
Jamie Carragher are at the heart of efforts to stifle growing
unrest in the
Liverpool dressing-room about
the capabilities of under-fire manager Roy
Hodgson.
Should West Ham claim at least
a point against
Newcastle today, Liverpool will be rock bottom of the Barclays Premier
League before
Blackburn's crucial visit to Anfield
tomorrow.
It is understood that
several Liverpool
stars - including striker
Fernando Torres and goalkeeper Pepe Reina - are questioning whether
Hodgson has what it takes to lead the Anfield club away from the
relegation zone.
However, Sportsmail has been
told that captain Gerrard and central defender Carragher believe
the former Fulham manager should be given time to turn things
around.
Gerrard and Carragher are the
two most influential players at Anfield and are understandably
concerned about a season that has plunged into disarray.
It is understood that they
have personally told some of their teammates that they should keep
faith with Hodgson's training methods and tactics, at least until
Christmas.
Hodgson felt confident enough
yesterday to laugh off claims he has fallen out with
Liverpool's £21million record signing
Torres.
'It's sad really that we
should have to put up with things like this,' he said. 'People
write the most ridiculous things on these websites, like I'm having
fights with Fernando Torres. Just ridiculous.
Scraped through: Liverpool came away from the clash
against Napoli with a draw
'Someone told me yesterday that they
had me falling out with the rest of my staff, and then they had me
resigning. I wouldn't take it too seriously, if I were you, I
really wouldn't. The dressing-room, staff, everyone around the
place is 100 per cent solid behind what we are trying to
do.
'I am here to try to
get Liverpool
back to where they belong, but I
can't do it overnight, when you consider what I walked into. I met
the owners, and they made it clear they thought I had inherited a
really bad situation but that I was the right man to put it
right.
'I would agree that I am the
right man to put it right. After three-and-a- half months, I
haven't suddenly become someone who has lost all confidence in
himself. What I have found is that I have taken on a difficult job
at a club that needs a lot of sorting out, and unfortunately I
haven't had a good start.
Don't be hasty: Gerrard wants the fans and owners to
give Hodgson more time
'But I had a bad start
at Fulham, and we were favourites to go down with four games left.
You have periods like that in your life that you have to live
through. I can't say I am happy about it, but it's nothing a few
victories wouldn't change.
'It wouldn't stop websites
putting out ridiculous stories, but I will have to learn to live
with that. It probably comes with the territory of working
at Liverpool.'
Hodgson has also had to
contend with reports that his job is about to be offered to Frank
Rijkaard, but Sportsmail understands the former Barcelona coach is
in no hurry to return to management after leaving Galatasaray on
Wednesday.
Family matters are taking
precedence at his home in Amsterdam, after a week that has included the death of
his father and birth of his first child with his current partner,
and he is unlikely to consider another managerial post until
the new year.
Blackburn counterpart Sam Allardyce tried to ease the
pressure on Hodgson by telling his old foe Rafa Benitez to accept
his share of the blame for Liverpool's decline.
Allardyce, who often clashed
with the Spaniard, said: 'As a manager, we live in the world of
perception rather than reality. I feel for Roy and he's taking the
brunt of the criticism, but given time he will get it
right.'
