Liverpool continue to slump as Blackpool rock Anfield
Where do Liverpool and Roy Hodgson go from here?
After making their worst start to a season for 57 years, Liverpool have not made the impact many had expected when the 63-year old took charge in the summer. With only one win, three defeats and a shock exit at the hands of League Two outfit Northampton in the Carling Cup, Liverpool fans are wondering what is happening to their team.
After their sensational win over Liverpool yesterday, Blackpool are in ninth position in the league, while Liverpool are in the relegation zone. Hodgson said of yesterday’s shock 2-1 defeat to Blackpool that “their great result is our nightmare result.”
With the co-ownership of the club in tatters, another protest against Tom Hicks and George Gillett was staged, and chants for legend Kenny Dalglish to replace Hodgson were heard minutes before the final whistle. Asked about the chants, Hodgson said: “What's fair and unfair? There is no fairness. The fans are frustrated at the moment. There are a lot of things happening, and it's understandable they are frustrated. I am the manager, I am the one who has to take responsibility and I have to accept their right to aim their frustration in my direction.”
The international break has come at the wrong time for Hodgson, but at the right time for the fans, who could do with a break from watching their team at the moment. Hodgson will be with plenty to think about when the Premier League resumes, and when it does, a Merseyside derby against Everton awaits at Goodison Park.
Fernando Torres limped off after 10 minutes with another injury yesterday, while Blackpool captain Charlie Adam and Luke Varney scored the important goals to give the Tangerines a priceless win. Despite the home side getting a goal back early in the second half, Blackpool held on. Considering they were beaten 4-0 by champions Chelsea and thumped 6-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates, Blackpool gave a good account of themselves, out-passing Liverpool in the first half and then surviving a fightback in the second.
A sign of doing well away is the home crowd applauding the opposition off the field. The way they collected the three points would have delighted Blackpool boss Ian Holloway, and he was pleased with the reaction of the Liverpool fans. “To be applauded off at what is almost the home of football is so special,” said Holloway. “That is what I dreamed of last night. These supporters have seen some of the best football ever, which started when Mr Shankly had his dream. In my era, there was no better football club in the world.”
Liverpool player Dirk Kuyt has apologised to the fans after another dismal display from the Reds. “It was really, really disappointing, probably one of the hardest defeats I've had to take since I've been here and we're sorry for the fans,” he said. “It's frustrating that we have got the international break now because we will have this result hanging over us and everyone in the dressing room wants to put it behind us as quickly as possible,” Kuyt added.
When Rafael Benitez was sacked in the summer, it looked as though a massive weight was lifted off the club, but as Benitez sits in the dugout coaching Inter Milan nowadays, he might be having a little chuckle to see that the problems at Liverpool run deeper than the management.
For Hodgson, trying to be positive must be tough at the moment, and he is all too aware of the reality of the club’s current situation. “There are 31 games left but when you are in the relegation zone you are in a relegation battle. But I really don't think my concerns are with relegation, my concerns are we are not playing to our full potential,” he said.
Liverpool were relegated the last time they made such a poor start 57 years ago. Candidates for relegation this season? Surely not.
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