Hodgson rules Reds out of title race

(GSM) – Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has ruled his side out of the title race following the Merseyside club’s 3-2 defeat against Manchester United.

Despite, clawing their way back from 2-0 down through a Steven Gerrard brace, United won the game six minutes from the end as Dimitar Berbatov completed his hat-trick.

The Old Trafford defeat was Liverpool’s second defeat of the campaign, leaving the club struggling in 16th position in the league.

Hodgson admitted that Liverpool’s chances of winning the title were already slim, but their aim of finishing in the top four remained alive.

“We have had a remarkably hard start to the season.

“Our performance today was clearly a lot better than our last two Premier League performances (a 1-0 win over West Brom and a goalless draw at Birmingham).

“We were playing against a top team and we can take a lot of credit from the way we went about our business and got ourselves back into the game.

“To use words like catastrophe is a bit strong unless you are talking about winning the league.

“Our aim is to get better, to get to the Champions League, and maybe that is where I have got to have my focus.”