Source: PA
Patience the key for Hodgson
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson once again called for patience as he waits for things to click into place at Anfield.
Having watched his side stage a second comeback inside a week - the first was ultimately unsuccessful at Manchester United - just to salvage a point in the 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland, the 62-year-old saw positive signs.
He was one of the few to do so as the Reds failed to press home their early advantage and almost paid the price. Hodgson spoke about results covering over cracks but performances so far have been so paper thin and the fissures so cavernous there is still plenty of repair work required.
"We missed a couple of very good possibilities at the end but that is partly also due to the stress the players are under," said the 62-year-old. "Goal chances which you take when you are two or three up don't always get taken when it is 1-1 or 2-2.
"I just think the expectations at the moment that are being piled on the team are probably expectations they are going to find difficult to match up to until such time we do more work together and they bed in better as a team. I am seeing very good signs that the bedding-in process is moving along nicely.
"I am not prepared at the moment to start getting depressed over the fact we are a few points down on the ones we would like to have, as I think maybe it is to be expected given the situation."
