[size=14pt]Hodgson has 'no fears' over his Liverpool future[/size]
Roy Hodgson claims Liverpool's form is as good as anybody's
Roy Hodgson insists he has "no fears" over his future as Liverpool manager, and he challenged any potential replacement to do a better job than he has since taking the Anfield reins.
Hodgson is preparing the Reds for a Europa League home clash with Utrecht, admitting the competition has "saved" the club from heightened criticism. Liverpool have won six of 17 league games this season, only triumphing once on the road, and they crashed out of the Carling Cup at home to Northampton. However, in Europe they have already secured progression to the next round with a game to spare.
Chairman Tom Werner labelled the club's results "unacceptable" during a Liverpool phone-in on Monday, but he did give his backing to Hodgson. And the Liverpool manager is adamant he has no reason to fear for his job following the sacking of Sam Allardyce by Blackburn's new owners.
"I don't have any fears or concerns," said Hodgson. "The owners have made it very clear. They said that they are in it for the long-term and want to be patient. They realise it will take time and that we can't turn things around overnight, and they also realise the team I'm working with is not the team I put together.
"So I have no concerns at all.
"But if you then say, 'so you feel there is no chance of you getting sacked', I would be in the minority of one in that respect. It happens to you [the reporters], it happens to Allardyce, I suppose we're all in that situation.
"As a professional, who thinks he knows his job, then you'll excuse me for not wishing to go down the route that you and other people want to go down, which is 'who can we get rid of next?'"
Elaborating on Liverpool's progress under his guidance, Hodgson defended his recent run of results, despite picking up seven points from a possible 18 in his last six Premier League matches. The Reds have beaten West Ham and Aston Villa, but lost to Newcastle, Tottenham and Stoke, in addition to dropping two points at Wigan.
"The only team with better results than us over the past five or six games is Arsenal or Manchester United. If you take the last five or six games we are right up there in terms of results," he stated, despite Liverpool being behind the likes of West Brom, Blackburn, Blackpool, Sunderland, Stoke and Bolton in the Premier League form table.
"I don't think the results over 17 games have been that good. We've been saved a bit by our European matches. We've done very well there. I've been satisfied with that because we've not always used our so-called best team. I'm expecting the next few games to go better. I'm expecting to see the team climb the table.
"Basically speaking, unless there is a major inflow of cash into the club, unless the team is suddenly going to be changed from one moment to the next, whoever takes my place will be doing a similar job. I don't believe there's a magic wand, we're working well as a staff and as a club, and together we'll put it right, and with the owners' help we'll get it 100 percent right because we'd improve the team as well."
Roy Hodgson claims Liverpool's form is as good as anybody's
Roy Hodgson insists he has "no fears" over his future as Liverpool manager, and he challenged any potential replacement to do a better job than he has since taking the Anfield reins.
Hodgson is preparing the Reds for a Europa League home clash with Utrecht, admitting the competition has "saved" the club from heightened criticism. Liverpool have won six of 17 league games this season, only triumphing once on the road, and they crashed out of the Carling Cup at home to Northampton. However, in Europe they have already secured progression to the next round with a game to spare.
Chairman Tom Werner labelled the club's results "unacceptable" during a Liverpool phone-in on Monday, but he did give his backing to Hodgson. And the Liverpool manager is adamant he has no reason to fear for his job following the sacking of Sam Allardyce by Blackburn's new owners.
"I don't have any fears or concerns," said Hodgson. "The owners have made it very clear. They said that they are in it for the long-term and want to be patient. They realise it will take time and that we can't turn things around overnight, and they also realise the team I'm working with is not the team I put together.
"So I have no concerns at all.
"But if you then say, 'so you feel there is no chance of you getting sacked', I would be in the minority of one in that respect. It happens to you [the reporters], it happens to Allardyce, I suppose we're all in that situation.
"As a professional, who thinks he knows his job, then you'll excuse me for not wishing to go down the route that you and other people want to go down, which is 'who can we get rid of next?'"
Elaborating on Liverpool's progress under his guidance, Hodgson defended his recent run of results, despite picking up seven points from a possible 18 in his last six Premier League matches. The Reds have beaten West Ham and Aston Villa, but lost to Newcastle, Tottenham and Stoke, in addition to dropping two points at Wigan.
"The only team with better results than us over the past five or six games is Arsenal or Manchester United. If you take the last five or six games we are right up there in terms of results," he stated, despite Liverpool being behind the likes of West Brom, Blackburn, Blackpool, Sunderland, Stoke and Bolton in the Premier League form table.
"I don't think the results over 17 games have been that good. We've been saved a bit by our European matches. We've done very well there. I've been satisfied with that because we've not always used our so-called best team. I'm expecting the next few games to go better. I'm expecting to see the team climb the table.
"Basically speaking, unless there is a major inflow of cash into the club, unless the team is suddenly going to be changed from one moment to the next, whoever takes my place will be doing a similar job. I don't believe there's a magic wand, we're working well as a staff and as a club, and together we'll put it right, and with the owners' help we'll get it 100 percent right because we'd improve the team as well."
