Under-pressure manager Roy Hodgson has vowed to ignore the growing disapproval of the Liverpool fans and push on at Anfield.
The Reds' Premier League woes worsened on Wednesday night as Stephen Ward fired Wolves to their first away win since late March, marking Hodgson's side's eighth defeat of the campaign. The Kop voiced their displeasure during the latter stages of the clash, chanting the name of Kenny Dalglish, not for the first time this season, and also, ironically, "Hodgson for England". But 63-year-old Hodgson, while admitting the negativity emanating from the stands is affecting his players, has pledged to shrug off the criticism and work to improve things.
"I am getting used to it, that is the way it is," said Hodgson. "We've had to live with that for quite a long time now as ever since I came here the famous Anfield support has not really been there. There were the problems with the owners, then Kenny being so popular and not getting the job and it being given to me. It is sad and I don't like hearing those things because I am trying to do the best job I can do. I am working as hard as I can so I can't say it is something I really appreciate. At the same time I am not in control of those things and it is the Kop's way of showing they are not happy with what the team is doing. As manager you take responsibility for that so I have to take that criticism on the chin as well. It was as bad a team performance as we have given, especially at Anfield. We've let the fans down and they made that perfectly clear to us and I can only empathise with them because if I was a supporter I would be disappointed with that."
The result leaves Liverpool just three points above the relegation zone, but Hodgson remains confident in his competence as a manager.
"I've seen times like this before. My belief that I can turn this around is my belief in my own ability," he added. "I know the players are working hard to give me and the club success but at the moment we are not succeeding. Maybe we lacked a bit of confidence and the negativity does affect confidence. Players are a little less keen to get on the ball and show what they can do for fear of making a mistake."
