Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool crisis: Hodgson's class of 2010 twice as likely to go down as Fagan's 1984 'flops'
Liverpool were European champions, Football League champions and League Cup holders when the 1984-85 season got under way.[LNB]Joe Fagan had claimed a remarkable trophy treble in his first season, helping the Kop faithful get over the retirement of the club's most successful manager ever manager Bob Paisley.[LNB]But by October 1984, the team that had won the last three domestic titles were in the bottom three with just two wins from their opening 11 League matches.[LNB]That was then but this is now...Liverpool hit rock bottom (three)[LNB]The class of 1984...OpponentsVenueScoreNorwichA3-3West HamH2-1QPRH1-1Luton A2-1ArsenalA1-3SunderlandH1-1Man UtdA1-1Sheff WedH0-2WBAH0-0TottenhamA0-1EvertonH0-1...and Roy's boys 26 years onOpponentsVenueScoreArsenalH1-1Man CityA0-3WBAH1-0B'hamA0-0Man UtdA2-3SunderlandH2-2BlackpoolH1-2 And to make matters worse, Merseyside rivals Everton were in the process of taking away their crown.[LNB]It all turned out fine in the end for Fagan & Co though. They rallied to finish runners-up to the Toffees and reached the final of the final of the European Cup, losing 1-0 to Juventus in the tragic Heysel final.[LNB] From champs to chumps: But at least Liverpool 84 would never have lost at home to Blackpool, the bitter pill swallowed by Roy Hodgson[LNB]However, even when the Reds slipped into the relegation zone there were neither calls for Fagan to be sacked nor panic at Anfield.[LNB]They had quality players who knew they would dig their way out of the hole they were in. [LNB]Today's mob have been denounced by ex-Anfield hero Mark Lawrenson as simply not good enough and responsible for plunging the club into crisis.[LNB]But is it really that bad? [LNB]Sportsmail looks at the Liverpool 'flops'of 1984, compares them to Roy Hodgson's class of 2010 and decides if it is time to panic at Anfield.[LNB]GoalkeeperBruce Grobbelaar v Pepe Reina[LNB]The most decorated keeper in the club's history, Grobbelaar's reign spanned 14 years at Anfield.Six titles, six domestic cups and one European Cup - he won it all.[LNB]However, Reina is a better all-rounder and less likely to drop a Grob-like clanger so although he has just one Liverpool trophy to his name - the 2006 FA Cup - the Spain World Cup winner is a commanding presence between the sticks.[LNB]Latest score: Fagan 0 Hodgson 1[LNB]Left backAlan Kennedy/Jim Beglin v Paul Konchesky/Daniel Agger/Fabio Aurelio/Jamie Carragher[LNB]Kennedy won two European Cups for the Reds while Beglin was the last signing made by the legendary Paisley. He took over from Kennedy and made the shirt his own.[LNB]Nowadays, Liverpool rely to a salad of names to fill the slot, the preferred candidate Konchesky missing through injury and the lack of stability shows.[LNB]Latest score: Fagan 1 Hodgson 1[LNB]Right backPhil Neal v Glenn Johnson[LNB]Anfield legend Neal won the lot and won it all again while drilling in penalties for fun. Johnson may possess more skill and pace than boring old Phil but defenders are judged on clean sheets- and Johnson's not in the same class there.[LNB]Latest score: Fagan 2 Hodgson 1[LNB]Centre backsAlan Hansen & Mark Lawrenson v Jamie Carragher/Martin Skrtel/Sotorios Kyrgiakos [LNB]Match of the Day boys Hansen and Lawro were smoother than baby oil-covered velvet but got results. Deceptively quick, the pair locked things up at the back for a good seven years and piled up over 700 games between them. They have a cupboardful of medals despite Hansen admitting he was a 'fancy dan.'[LNB]Carragher's not bad though, a real Kop hero who plays very game like it could be his last. Every team wants a defender like him and his 14 years as a Red have been hard.[LNB]Not as hard as Skyrtel looks though, the shaven-headed Slovak never afraid to put his foot - or head - in where it hurts. But he's only been with the club since 2008 and has yet to prove his consistency as has Kyrgiakos.[LNB]Latest score: Fagan 3 Hodgson 2 (Hansen and Carragher on target. Sorry Lawro).[LNB]Left midfieldKevin MacDonald v Joe Cole[LNB]Kev stabilised the good ship Liverpool after arriving in December 1984 and played a major part in their revival. Joe Cole's trickery and quality is not questioned but he has arrived at a club shrouded in gloom and not getting results. MacDonald never had the flair of Cole but got nearly everything right. However, he's not a match winner like Joe.[LNB]Half-time score: Fagan 3 Hodgson 3[LNB]Right midfield Steve Nicol/Ronnie Whelan v Dirk Kuyt/Maxi Rodriguez[LNB]Kop legends, Nicol and Whelan added not only flair but genuine grit down the flanks - sometimes down the middle. Some good goals too. Kuyt seems to have bags of ability but has yet to transfer that to the pitch or convince all the fans.[LNB]Rodriguez will get more of a chance Kuyt is injured but even he's not a patch on the mercurial Celtic duo.[LNB]Latest score: Fagan 4 Hodgson 3 (1984 class shines through)[LNB]Central midfieldJohn Wark/Ronnie Whelan/Steve Nicol/Sammy Lee v Steven Gerrard/Raul Meireles/Chrisian Poulsen [LNB]Wark ended up top scorer in 1984-85 with 27 goals ahead of greats like Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish so was the Stevie G of his day. With reliable players around him, Wark had the safety net Gerrard does not possess now in the shape of new boys Poulsen and Meireles. Gerrard, however, is the nearest thing to a one-man team since Diego Maradona and won't allow this rut to get any bigger.[LNB]Latest score: Fagan 5 Hodgson 4(Wark and Gerrard on target)[LNB]AttackKenny Dalglish/Ian Rush/ Paul Walsh/Craig Johnston v Fernando Torres/David Ngog/Dirk Kuyt/Ryan Babel[LNB]Walsh and Ngog cancel themselves out and the much-underrated Craig Johnston at his worst was better than Ryan Babel at his best - so the class of 84 are light years ahead of the 2010 strugglers up front.[LNB]Rush and Dalglish oozed quality, King Kenny's football brain second to none. Rush scored with his eyes shut and although Torres is a World Cup winner, he's not a Liverpool winner while Kuyt spent the summer rumoured to be switching clubs and instead has switched positions.[LNB]Final score: Fagan 7 Hodgson 4[LNB]If we can do it anyone can: Djimi Traore (left) and the one who used to suck his thumb (centre) helped Liverpool become European champions so surely Jamie Carragher (right) can help clinch points against the likes of Blackburn (if not Blackpool)[LNB]So is it time to press the panic button at Anfield just yet?[LNB]Probably not - and Hodgson did ask to be judged after ten games so he still has three to go.[LNB]However, he will be desperate that Gerrard stays fit, Cole stays on the pitch and Reina doesn't get the yips.[LNB]The facts are that the side 26 years ago had twice the quality of the current one - only four of the 2010 vintage would get a look-in if time machines became a reality.[LNB]But let's face it, Liverpool have got by in the last five years being a one-man team (occasionally two) so at least they appear to have four.[LNB]However, pf an Anfield side packed with legends can slip into the bottom three, any team can. And if a Liverpool side containing the likes of Jerzy Dudek, Harry Kewell, Milan Baros, Djimi Traore and that one who used to suck his thumb can become champions of Europe don't be too shocked if this current crop win the lot this season - apart from the Carling Cup of course![LNB]What a laugh: Sir Alex[LNB]Yet it remains to be seen if Hodgson & Co have the stomach for a fight -starting with that crucial clash at Everton this weekend.[LNB]Has there been a bigger Merseyside derby since the great cup clashesof yesteryear or a red/blue battle with so little impact on the tophalf of the table?[LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson must be loving all this...he's just sorry that thefact Wolves play West Ham the day before the Goodison clash meansLiverpool cannot be bottom of the table on Saturday night. He'd takesecond bottom though...[LNB] Fernando Torres set to win race for Merseyside derby as crocked striker returns to training with LiverpoolLiverpool lose Kuyt to ankle injury ahead of derby date with EvertonMud, debt and fears as Liverpool fight threatens to become slanging matchLiverpool takeover in new twist as Lim offers £320m on day of Court dramaRef Attwell shown the red card as Premier League axe official from listLIVERPOOL FC
