Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

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Hodgson backs keeper Reina

17 Aug 2010 - 07:57:17

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Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has leapt to the defence of goalkeeper Jose Reina after his horror own goal at the end of their Premier League opener against Arsenal on Sunday.

The former Fulham boss has refused to place the blame on the shoulders of the Spaniard, despite his error in the dying moments of the clash enabled the Londoners to return to the capital with a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

Speaking to the club's official website, he said: "He took it hard because he is a very serious professional who really believes in himself and the team.

"He will be the first one not to try and apportion blame to other people, so of course he's taken it hard.

"But I thought he played well considering he didn't have an awful lot to do - and what he did have to do came very spasmodically. His concentration was good, his kicking was excellent.

"He's had a shoulder injury and came back quicker than we thought he would, so there are an enormous number of positives.

"The one negative, unfortunately, was he let in a goal which in normal circumstances he would have kept out."