Hodgson unfazed by Benitez availability

Benítez left Liverpool at the end of the season to take over at Inter Milan, but has been dismissed from the Italian club following a disappointing run in the domestic league and in Europe.

Roy Hodgson, however, suggested that logic would dictate that Liverpool would never have let Benítez go only to re-employ the Spaniard six months later.

Liverpool recorded a poor first half to the season, going into the Christmas period in ninth place, well behind their rivals of recent seasons Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

However, Hodgson said there was no reason why his side could not push to break into the coveted top four, which would ensure Champions League football next season.

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Weekend Links: The Glory Around The Fields Of Anfield Road, Ronaldinho rubbishes Liverpool link, Palmeiras looking to land Adriano and Ronaldinho, Liverpool and Tottenham prepare for January bidding war, Liverpool are improving in confidence

The weekend links are back again! News featuring some of the most popular football blog or website. Enjoy your weekend.

The Glory Around The Fields Of Anfield Road – The Empire of the Kop

Ronaldinho rubbishes Liverpool link – Premiership Talk

Palmeiras looking to land Adriano and Ronaldinho – The Sport Review

Liverpool and Tottenham prepare for January bidding war – Football Corner

Liverpool are improving in confidence – Football News Blog

 

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Match Highlights: Liverpool 0-0 Utrecht

Liverpool endured a frustrating 90 minutes as they rounded off their Europa League Group K campaign with a goalless draw against Utrecht on Wednesday night.

The Reds created the better openings but could not find the breakthrough to equal the club's record of nine successive home victories in Europe.

However, the result does ensure that Roy Hodgson's men conclude the group stage undefeated with 10 points from six games played and means they can now look forward to Friday's draw for the knockout stages.

Ahead of the match the boss opted to make 10 changes to the side that lost at Newcastle with stand-in skipper Martin Skrtel the only survivor.

It saw Nathan Eccleston make his first ever start for the club while there were also chances for the likes of Joe Cole, Danny Wilson and Milan Jovanovic to impress.

The changes in personnel did little to instigate a fast start to the proceedings though and the only effort of note in the early exchanges came on eight minutes when Jovanovic crashed a rasping 25 yard drive against the crossbar.

It was the highlight of a somewhat inauspicious opening half as the lack of competitive edge meant neither side passed the ball with any real urgency.

Fabio Aurelio curled a free-kick in a dangerous position against the visitors' wall while at the other end Wilson gave another glimpse of his outstanding promise when he denied Ricky van Wolfswinkel a shot on goal.

The Scot then headed Jonjo Shelvey's left-wing corner over the top before the Dutch outfit suffered a huge blow on the stroke of half-time when van Wolfswinkel was carried off injured on a stretcher. [Read more…]

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Robbie Fowler backs Hodgson to be remained as manager

ROBBIE Fowler says he expects Liverpool owner John W Henry to afford Roy Hodgson more time, but believes "three or four" additions will be needed during the January transfer window if the club are to compete in the Premier League's top six.

Henry last night called for patience from the club's supporters, stating that there would be no "quick decisions" despite an inconsistent league campaign so far, and Fowler says the club's tradition of backing its managers would continue.

Speaking to Talksport, the former Reds hero - who now plies his trade with Perth Glory in the Australian A-League.

   "Liverpool are better than they were at the start of the season, which gives us a bit of hope.

"I think in January you are looking at maybe three or four good players to come in, and then we will see where it takes us.

"I think they [the owners] will stick with Roy. It is a bit of a transitional period; Roy is new in the job, and Liverpool are renowned throughout their history for sticking by their managers, and I think they will do so again."

"At the start of the season you would probably have taken fifth place if I'm honest," he said. "Obviously Liverpool's standards over the years mean they will be looking to compete in the top four, so they can attract better players and go onto bigger and better things.

"They did turn the corner recently after a bad start, though they have had a few indifferent results of late. But I think the league table is not as bad as people are making out."

Source: Liverpool Echo UK

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Fans reaction on Liverpool’s defeat at St. James’ Park

Well, the moment Kevin Nolan put the ball passed Reina, my thought are I’ll saved my energy of watching this match at 1.30am in the morning. I’m off to bed after that first goal and the result didn’t surprised me at all… losing 3-1. Let’s watch the video by The Redmen and others Reds fan reaction after the match below.

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Goal Highlights: Newcastle 3-1 Liverpool

Liverpool endured another away day to forget as Newcastle gave new manager Alan Pardew the perfect start by sending the Reds crashing to a 3-1 defeat.

Kevin Nolan gave the home side the lead after 15 minutes before Dirk Kuyt levelled shortly after half-time as Liverpool turned up the pressure and looked the side most likely to go on and take all three points.

But late strikes from Joey Barton and Andy Carroll ensured it was Pardew and not Roy Hodgson celebrating come the final whistle as the Reds succumbed to their seventh league defeat of the season.

Hodgson was able to restore Fernando Torres to his starting XI after the Spain star had missed Liverpool's last outing against Aston Villa due to the birth of his son.

That was the solitary change made by the boss to the team that had produced such a pulsating performance, with Ryan Babel the man making way.

While Liverpool went into the game on a high following Monday's comprehensive dispatch of Villa, Newcastle had undergone a week of change following the dismissal of Chris Hughton.

The Magpies moved to replace him with Alan Pardew, and the 49-year-old took his place in the St James' Park dugout for the first time.

The Londoner had never managed to mastermind a victory over Liverpool in his coaching career prior to kick off, while no other club has inflicted more league defeats upon Newcastle than the Reds.

And it was the visitors who carved out the first real opportunity of note on 10 minutes when a half-cleared free-kick was worked back into the area by Raul Meireles. The ball broke for Sotirios Kyrgiakos, whose powerful drive was beaten away by Tim Krul. [Read more…]

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Transfer rumours: Ronaldinho, Suarez and Johnson

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson insists there is no truth in the rumours linking AC Milan star Ronaldinho with a move to Anfield.

Hodgson denied speculation linking both Ronaldinho and Ajax captain Luis Suarez, and although he admitted he was a long-term admirer of Aston Villa winger Ashley Young, he insisted there had been no communication between the clubs.

It has been suggested Liverpool would be willing to listen to offers for Johnson with the England international believed to be unsettled on Merseyside but Hodgson denied claims Glen Johnson would be offloaded in January, and insisted the new owners were looking to build the team long-term, and the club would spend sensibly.

The likes of Tottenham, Juventus and Bayern Munich have all been linked with the former Portsmouth man, but Hodgson insists the full-back is going nowhere.

Hodgson revealed there were also plans to award midfielder Lucas Leiva a new contract.

   "A couple of weeks ago, Damien Comolli mentioned to me about him wanting to get in touch with Lucas's agent to discuss a new contract, but I can't quite frankly remember where we are,"

"Certainly if you ask me the question 'Is Lucas welcome at the club and would we like to keep him?' then the answer is a resounding 'yes'." – said Roy Hodgson.

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Steven Gerrard will not be featured at Toon

Roy Hodgson has contradicted the verdict of Liverpool's head of sports medicine, Dr Peter Brukner, insisting Steven Gerrard will not be fit for the weekend trip to Newcastle.

Brukner gave a positive verdict on Gerrard's fitness on November 30, revealing the Liverpool skipper was on course to make a return from a hamstring tear at St James' Park.

However, Hodgson has ruled Gerrard out of the weekend encounter, insisting the following match at Fulham is a more realistic date for the midfielder's return.

Meanwhile, Hodgson also revealed Daniel Agger could make a long-awaited return from a calf problem against Fulham.

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