Hodgson eager to right the ship

After avoiding the media, under-fire Roy Hodgson is backing his Liverpool players to perform against Manchester United in the FA Cup.

Liverpool cancelled Hodgson’s pre-match press conference with less than two hours’ notice on Friday in a bid to shield the beleaguered manager from a barrage of questions over his future at Anfield.

Speaking instead to the club’s website, Hodgson backed the players to recover from their 3-1 defeat away to Blackburn on Wednesday when they visit fierce rivals United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

“It gives us a chance in a really high-profile game and a big game to get back and put the bitter defeat against Blackburn behind us,” Hodgson told Liverpoolfc.tv.

“It was a poor, poor defensive performance to let in the goals we did and we’re all very disappointed about that. We thought after Bolton we had a good opportunity to go to Blackburn and beat them. To come away defeated was a harsh blow and this game against our fiercest rivals gives us the chance to show we are better than we were on Wednesday.”

Liverpool’s owners are reportedly searching for Hodgson’s replacement, with the manager seemingly having lost the backing of the supporters and boardroom alike.

“It’s very important the fans realise that we understand they have high hopes, expectations and ambitions for the club and the team. We have high hopes, expectations and ambitions as well,” he said.

“Every time we go on to the field we desperately want to see those dreams materialise and to produce the performances which bring you results. It’s very painful when it’s not happening and the fans make their views felt. We’re all hurting in this situation.”

Hodgson is hoping to have close to a full complement of players to call upon, with Raul Meireles set to return for the trip to Old Trafford.

“Paul Konchesky got a dead leg in the game and Martin Skrtel has got a slight stomach strain but the prognosis is that both will be fit to train tomorrow, in which case that would just leave us with Jamie Carragher injured,” Hodgson said.