Liverpool co-owner: Roy Hodgson cannot take sole blame for team's poor form
John Henry, co-owner of Liverpool, has backed the club to find their form in the Premier League and insisted that manager Roy Hodgson cannot be exclusively blamed for the team's poor form.
On 7 November, Liverpool defeated league leaders Chelsea 2–0, only to draw Wigan Athletic and lose to Stoke City in their next two league fixtures.
Henry, whose company New England Sports Ventures took over the club in October, said solid team performances — such as the one against Chelsea — are bound to come from the 11th-placed team.
"It's up to us to build a winner going forward. It’s up to [the squad] to determine to win now," Henry told independent Liverpool website Red and White Kop in one of his many media appearances since the takeover. "We saw a certain team on the field against
Chelsea last week that showed what they can do. We also know how competitive the EPL is this year. There are no guaranteed matches any longer for any club. This club can be better."
The American added that Hodgson, who has only 16 league points from 13 games since taking charge of the club this summer, cannot bear the sole responsibility for the team's disappointing start to the season.
"Blaming the manager or any one particular player is simply wrong. This club needs to play up to their potential every match. If they don’t, they won’t win."
Henry: Improvement could take time
Henry, a novice to the Premier League but co-owner of American baseball franchise the Boston Red Sox since 2002, has previously granted Hodgson permission to shop for new players in the January transfer window.
But the 61-year-old has now said that it may be longer before the club sees significant improvement.
"We have work to do and must invest in this club to improve it on the field. Can that be successfully done in January? A number of people I’ve talked with doubt it. Most people seem to think it will be the summer before we can really begin to improve."
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