Source: Team_Talk
Hodgson ready to ignore critics
Roy Hodgson intends to ignore the critics as he focuses on turning Liverpool's poor start to the season around.[LNB] The Reds boss is under pressure with his team in the bottom three of the Premier League after nine games.[LNB]Some of the tension was eased with victory over Blackburn last weekend but Hodgson is not getting carried away with one performance.[LNB]The former Fulham manager said: "It is quite easy to kick people when they are down.[LNB]"We are down at the moment so the kicks are going to rain down on us. We just have to deal with it.[LNB]"The first quarter of the season has not been a good one for us in terms of league form.[LNB]"The next three quarters is going to be very important.[LNB]"At the moment we are still in a poor position as far as our league position is concerned. We need to get a result in every game to get out of it.[LNB]"I am a bit wary of saying the problems are over, we have turned the corner, but I believe in the team and I believe we are capable of doing a lot better in the next quarter of the season than we have in the first quarter."[LNB]The mood at Anfield has lifted since a defeat by arch-rivals Everton a fortnight ago left the Reds 19th in the table.[LNB]Coming after a courtroom battle over the control of the club, it was a real low point but the new owners have since promised to bring stability.[LNB]Hodgson now wants the upward curve to continue but accepts they face stern test of their credentials at Bolton tomorrow.[LNB]Under Owen Coyle, Bolton are enjoying their best start to a season for four years - but victory for the Reds at the Reebok Stadium would put them level on points with the Trotters.[LNB]"I have a lot of respect for Bolton, I think they are a very good club and a good team," said Hodgson.[LNB]"They have been very successful for a number of years now and we know they are a hard team to beat.[LNB]"They are a very stable Barclays Premier League team today and we are going to have to play at our best to get a result there."[LNB]Hodgson is aware it may only take a few good results to change the momentum of Liverpool's season.[LNB]He added: "There have been a lot of draws in the league and that is why there are so many teams bunched together.[LNB]"It is strange you get teams that have had a poor start to the season and are very disappointed, like ourselves, but teams like Bolton or Fulham who are quite happy but have only got a few points more.[LNB]"It is a bit of a strange situation but it is going to be important to get victories. We need three-pointers, not one-pointers."[LNB]One bright spot for Liverpool this term has been the form of their Greece defender Sotirios Krygiakos.[LNB]The 31-year-old has started the last three Premier League games and contributed goals in two of them, against Blackpool and Blackburn.[LNB]Krygiakos, brought in by Rafael Benitez for £2million from AEK Athens last year, acquired a cult status late last season and his popularity is growing.[LNB]Hodgson said: "He has certainly done a good job when he has come into the team, not least of all in the opponents' penalty area, where he has got some good goals.[LNB]"He is a very whole-hearted player, a very successful player.[LNB]"There aren't many Greeks with a European Championship winners medal like him.[LNB]"He didn't get so many chances last season but he has got his chance this year, partly through injuries to Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson, but he has certainly taken the chance with both hands.[LNB]"In all the games he has played so far I would have to say he has been one of our better players."[LNB]
