Source: Daily_Mail
Too early to write us off, insists Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson insists it is too early to write offhis side just two matches into the Barclays Premier League season. [LNB]Reaction to Monday's defeat to Manchester City was that it was apertinent symbol of the changing of the established order in the topflight, that Roberto Mancini's side had overtaken the Reds in thetop-four pecking order. [LNB]Hodgson has, understandably, tried to take a more measured view of things.[LNB] Back to face Baggies: Fernando Torres adds firepower[LNB]They were within a couple of minutes of beating Arsenal at Anfield in their first match, having played for half the game with 10 men after Joe Cole's sending-off, and their preparations for the City match were severely disrupted by Barcelona-bound Javier Mascherano making himself unavailable. [LNB] The first half of their Europa League play-off second leg against Trabzonspor in Turkey did little to assuage doubts about whether the players were indeed capable of performing under pressure. [LNB]They did, however, show character after the break and two late goals put them into the group stage, so they head into tomorrow's clash with West Brom at Anfield with renewed confidence. [LNB]'I can't get my head around why, on the second game of the season, it should be seen as such a watershed,' said Hodgson. [LNB]'We lost a football game. But we showed great character, to keep going and keep playing the right football against Trabzonspor and I was really pleased we achieved victory against a team which are notoriously difficult to beat. [LNB]'It is always important to win games and it was good preparation for Sunday. [LNB]Premature adjudication: Hodgson says critics are too quick to chide after City defeat[LNB]'It wouldn't have been nice going into the game with two defeats behind us so getting a victory was important for the psychological feeling coming up to a West Brom game.'[LNB]Tomorrow's match will see the return of striker Fernando Torres, captain Steven Gerrard, forward Milan Jovanovic and probably Daniel Agger. [LNB]They were all left behind on Merseyside either because Hodgson felt they needed a rest of were injured. [LNB] But he will be delighted to call on their services for a game against the Baggies, which Liverpool are expected to win comfortably if they are to avoid more criticism about their stuttering start to the season. [LNB]'It will be nice to play at home again and hopefully get the players who weren't in Turkey back into the fray again and maybe a little bit rested,' said Hodgson. [LNB]'That will be useful. It was a very tiring pitch in Trabzon and, had we had to fight with the same XI that we had against Manchester City against West Brom, it would be very tough for them. [LNB]'It is good to give one or two of them a rest and psychologically it will be a boost we won the game because you don't want to be going in staring at the possibilities of three bad results on the trot. [LNB]'I've spoke to the medical staff; Steven is feeling better (after a back problem) and they are optimistic he will be okay. [LNB]'Jovanovic (rested) will be okay, but Maxi Rodriguez is still sick and Daniel Agger (concussion) is feeling a lot better too. [LNB]'It is really only Maxi who is a great doubt. [LNB]'This Europa League is in some ways harder on a squad than the Champions League because you get more teams from the far eastern part of Europe. [LNB]'Then you are playing Sunday-Thursday-Sunday, so you need a very big squad.'[LNB] Liverpool hand over starlets to clinch £4m Konchesky dealMascherano held us to ransom: Roy hits out after Liverpool rebel forces Barca deal[LNB] [LNB]
