Danny Murphy is backing Roy Hodgson to guide Liverpool towards Champions League qualification

Danny Murphy 300DANNY MURPHY believes Roy Hodgson will guide Liverpool back into the Champions League this season.The former Reds midfielder, who returns to Anfield with Fulham today, insists his old boss at Craven Cottage is the right man to restore the club's fortunes.Liverpool go into the game in ninth place but Murphy is confident Hodgson's side will swiftly climb the table.'If I was a betting man, I would guarantee they are going to finish in the top four,' he said. 'The club is in a bit of a predicament, but you couldn't ask for a more humble gentleman to deal with that.'The dilemma for me came when I was getting calls from people at Liverpool asking me about Roy. I knew I could say nothing and they would still probably employ him.'But I was praising him because that's what he deserves, being honest and knowing that it would probably help them decide he was the right man.'I didn't want to see him go, but football success generally means that people move on.'The great thing for him was that he got to manage one of the great teams in Europe and Liverpool got one of the best coaches around.'Murphy, who made 294 appearances for the Reds between 1997 and 2004, says Hodgson will need time to produce a team capable of challenging for the title.'I hear positive sounds coming out of the club about him. The people up there don't suffer fools,' he said.'You will get a more successful Liverpool there this season, but the fans are realistic at the moment about what's achievable.'Roy wants to be a success and success for Liverpool is competing with Manchester United and Chelsea.'He might need a bit longer than one season to do that, but he will bring them closer. I don't think the fans expect them to win the Premier League this season - they are more realistic than that.

Source: Liverpool_Echo