A trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers, a team that Liverpool have lost to only once in the last 24 league meetings, was another of those ‘must win’ games for Hodgson. It was a ‘must win’ in terms of improving Liverpool’s league position and a ‘must win’ if Hodgson had any hope of retaining his role as manager at Liverpool FC. However, as the evening unfolded, Ewood Park was the latest setting for another of Liverpool’s nightmares.
Roy Hodgson’s line-up to face Blackburn raised questions again prior to kick off. Most supporters having issues with Paul Konchesky being drafted back into the side and Daniel Agger sidelined – the latter coming back from injury and possibly being ‘saved’ for Sunday, but I’ve no reasonable explanation for the inclusion of the former, who has been pretty dire all season.
Roy decided to stick with a 4-4-2 formation, calling up Joe Cole to replace Dirk Kuyt and Soto Kyrgiakos replacing Daniel Agger, who reportedly told Danish media that if he is no longer in contention for a starting place he sees no point in staying at Anfield.
The game started well for Liverpool, who passed the ball reasonably well and put Blackburn under early pressure. Fernando Torres looked hungry and had a goal disallowed for offside on 3 minutes. But the good start wasn’t to last, with Blackburn taking the lead on 32 minutes through Martin Olsson. Poor positioning from Johnson and his failure to pick up Olsson’s run allowed him to easily run onto the ball from Mame Diouf and guide it through the legs of Reina with a shot from deep inside the area.
Having gone a goal down Liverpool offered little in the way of a fight back and as Blackburn continued to press they doubled their lead on 38 minutes through Benjani. The Blackburn player showing good strength and easily turning Kyrgiakos to shoot hard and high into the roof of the net.
Inevitably, with the travelling Kop displeased with the performance, came the calls for the removal of Hodgson and were even taunted by the opposition fans who had also endured a torrid time under Roy Hodgson.
A better performance was needed in the second half, but this did not come. Very few of the Liverpool players were making any sort of impact on the game – Maxi Rodriguez was having a particularly poor game having impressed with decent performances so far this season and Glen Johnson’s defensive frailties were also exposed on occasion. As well as the manager taking blame for the loss, a lot of the players will have to take a look at themselves following this defeat. Joe Cole, on the other hand, did have one of his better performances and appeared to be given more freedom and was finding the ball throughout the game.
Liverpool did manage to dominate possession in the second half but that was primarily a product of Blackburn sitting back on their lead. And the possession was to no avail as Blackburn took a 3 goal lead on 58 minutes through Benjani’s second of the game. Hoilett turning Martin Skrtel on the right sided byline far too easily, who then squared the ball to Benjani for a simple tap in to make it 3-0. Again, the travelling Kop voiced their disdain for Hodgson but it should be noted they did not falter in support of the team – vociferously vocalising their support for the 11 on the pitch.
Gerrard managed to reduce the deficit on 81 minutes after the ball fell to him kindly in the area and he was also awarded a penalty after being brought down in the 85th minute by Salgado – but this was not to be Liverpool’s night as the reliable captain skied his effort from the spot. Hodgson looked on from the side-lines – without emotion, without expression and without motivation – possibly already contemplating what his future might hold at Liverpool FC.
This will rank among one of Liverpool's worst setbacks this season, along with the 3-1 loss at Newcastle, the 2-0 defeats by Stoke and Everton, the loss at home to Wolves and Blackpool and the humiliation at the hand of Northampton. Unsurprisingly, it is difficult to see how he will be able to avoid more negative headlines after a disastrously poor display and how he will avoid termination of his contract. And in the post-match press conference he evaded the issue and appeared uncomfortable with having to deal with it.
"I am not prepared to talk about my future," said Hodgson. "At this moment I am depressed enough with the performance and the result. I am not here to talk about that. I have no comments to make and I don't intend to answer any questions on the subject." With that, the press conference was called to an end by Liverpool's director of communications, Ian Cotton.
It’s been quite clear that FSG were reluctant to dispense with Hodgson until the end of the season. However, with attendances at Anfield dropping, away support not as strong as it has been and continued revolt in the stands and the dire performances and results, the pressure to sack Hodgson is mounting.
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