Bring back Rafael Benitez to the Kop

With the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday evening, Liverpool Football Club has took a plunged into a new depth of crisis. The reason Kop boss, Roy Hodgson mentioned during the post match conference for the loss at Anfield was “it was a bad day at office”, and he blames the lacks of support from the crowds.

I think we all have given him all the backings and supports since his appointment. There are no reason for him to laid the blames on the supporters. Although, he cannot be solely blamed for the defeat at Anfield yesterday, the players are largely at fault too.

The board has been patience with Hodgson and has given him the time to move forward his plans for the team. How much longer do we need to wait until NESV or John W. Henry finally sees that it is crucial to replace the manager now? There aren’t any lack of candidates for the manager post to select from, as Martin O’Neil, Frank Rijkaard and Rafael Benitez are all but available.

There will be some segment of the Reds supporters opposing to the re-appointment of Rafael Benitez. But why we need to set aside the ruckus he has caused during his last tenure and give the helm at Anfield back to Rafael Benitez at this crucial time?

First of all, the core of the team has been employed by Rafa. The tactical aspects of the team will remain intact and removes all the negative approach from Hodgson’s plan. Our defence are in a shambles with the man-marking system deployed by Hodgson. Do we have this kind of problem over the zonal marking system during Benitez?

NESV and John W. Henry needs to reassess the every possible angles of changing the manager before the transfer windows re-opens in two days time. The Reds were once a fearsome opponent at European arena but now we can’t even beat a bottom of the league table team at our own backyard.

Why not employ Frank Rijkaard or Martin O’Neil? We doesn’t want to repeat the same mistake all over again. New manager, new tactical plans, new backroom staffs and a new headache. Rafael Benitez still has some unfinished business at Anfield, back him up financially and he’ll give us the results.

Don’t mistaken me for as a pro-Rafa or anti-Hodgson regime. I’ve backed Hodgson to succeed Benitez but I didn’t realised that he doesn’t have a clue on how to handle a massive club like Liverpool Football Club. He is dragging us down and not the opposite way.

Is it the right time to bring back Rafael Benitez? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Goal Highlights: Liverpool 0-1 Wolves

Stephen Ward stunned the Kop with the only goal of the game as Liverpool slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves on Wednesday night.

The Irish midfielder struck a 56 minute winner as Mick McCarthy's men moved off the foot of the Barclays Premier League table with a famous Anfield triumph.

The result means Roy Hodgson's side have now lost eight league matches so far this season and remain 12 in the standings, 12 points adrift of fourth placed Chelsea with a game in hand.

The pre-match chatter had centred upon the return to action of Steven Gerrard while the sad passing of ex-Reds Bill Jones and Avi Cohen meant there was a pause prior to kick- off as Anfield paid its respects with a minute's applause.

The fitting tribute was followed by a hungry start by the home side, perhaps unsurprising given that this was their first run-out in the league since their 3-1 reversal at Newcastle United on December 11.

The adverse weather conditions had put paid to the Reds' hopes of adding to the fans' festive cheer any earlier, but they were almost celebrating a belated gift when Fernando Torres exposed the Wolves rearguard on nine minutes.

A quick-thinking free-kick by the Spaniard sent Raul Meireles through on goal but the No.4 was denied his first in a red shirt by a fine point-blank stop from Wayne Hennessey.

If Kopites felt that was the beginning of the onslaught they would be sadly mistaken as the visitors began to grow in confidence.

Indeed, few observers had given the visitors any hope of upsetting Liverpool at Anfield in the run up to the encounter, but they almost snatched the lead on 17 minutes when Glen Johnson's superb defensive header prevented Stephen Hunt from having a free sight of goal at the far post. [Read more…]

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS 

Does Roy Hodgson deserves another patience from us? I’m running out of patience with him as the manager of Liverpool Football Club. Is it the right time to bring back Rafael Benitez? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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POLL: Should Liverpool FC appoint back Benitez?

Let’s hear from all of you and leave your thoughts on the comment box below.

Should Liverpool FC appoint back Benitez?

 

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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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