When the booming chant of 'Dalglish' went around Anfield last
Sunday, it was the harshest message to boss Roy Hodgson of what
they really want to see.
Namely, Kenny For Christmas - or Kenny's Football Club.
Defeat in the Goodison derby on Sunday week and that may not be
the pie in the sky it would have appeared just a month ago.
It has not gone unnoticed on The Kop that, exactly a year ago
yesterday, the Reds went to Chelsea knowing a victory would send
them top of the Premier League.
By the time they resume action after the international break,
against Everton of all teams, they could quite easily be
bottom.
It has been a slide of seismic proportions, the club's worst
start to a top-flight season since the relegation campaign of
1953-54.
While no one is considering the prospect of their going down,
the heady days of Champions League triumph in Istanbul seem light
years ago, never mind just five.
Of course, it is unthinkable that losing to their bitter local
rivals would spell the sack for Hodgson, just three months after
taking charge.
But it would certainly leave him with a mountain to climb to get
back in favour with the supporters, who were split on his
appointment in the first place.
And love them or loathe them, there is no disguising the fact
that few fans hold as much influence with their club as Reds
followers.
How ironic that a month ago Hodgson insisted his Liverpool
should not be judged until at least 10 league games in.
Following Sunday's embarrassing 2-1 Anfield defeat by Blackpool,
he could have lost what little terrace goodwill remains after only
eight.
The simple fact a Liverpool manager's future is even open for
debate so soon into his reign says everything about the impact
Hodgson has made.
Playing Raul Meireles out of position on the right, Joe Cole
similarly so on the left, failing to bring in adequate back-up to
Fernando Torres... . the cons are fast beginning to outweigh the
pros for many Kopites.
A lack of passion, fight and direction on the field is
inexcusable. Yet not as much so as the lack of passion, fight and
direction they appear to be getting from the dugout.
And all the while, the spectre of King Kenny - looking down from
the directors' box - hovers over Hodgson like the Sword of
Damocles.
Dalglish has never made any secret of the fact he will do
anything to help out the club where he is such a legend.
For many, that help is already needed and bookies have slashed
the price on him being Kop boss at some stage this season to just
100-30.
Yes, Hodgson, as he has told all and sundry, does have 35 years
of European experience under his belt.
But experience at an institution as massive and demanding as
Liverpool? Barring the odd year here and there, nowhere near.
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway meant it as a self-deprecating quip
when he spoke of the Reds fan behind the dugout bellowing 'Come on,
this lot aren't Real Madrid' as they toiled against the Tangerines.
Yet that in itself said everything about how poor Liverpool are
right now.
Barring the biggest turnaround in Premier League history, the
only way they will be facing the Galacticos in the foreseeable
future is on the Xbox.
Holloway feels those above Hodgson should carry the can for
Liverpool's current plight.
He said: "Roy is a fantastic manager. He has been for years and
he is now.
"The club has to sort itself out above him to give him any sort
of chance. You have to direct the club in the right way and, until
that takes place, it'll be really tough.
"Maybe he relies on Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard too much
and maybe some of the other people who have been brought in haven't
been up to it.
"But you certainly need stability above you."
