Hodgson wary of riding Liverpool wave

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson goes into Wednesday’s Premier League encounter away to Wigan more upbeat than ever but he is still doing his best to quell the new-found optimism at Anfield.

The Reds win over Chelsea on Sunday was Liverpool?s third straight league victory following earlier wins over Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.

These results have lifted the pressure on the former Fulham manager although Hodgson is not willing to believe quite yet that Liverpool can become a Premier League force this term.

“I’ll enjoy ninth for a little while but, in this league, you can go back to 16th just as quickly,” he said. “The squad is looking pretty small at the moment with the injuries and sickness.

“If we can get through the next two without too much pain, then who knows?

“But it’s a long season. We’re 11 games in, not even a third of the way in, and I prefer to keep my feet on the ground. We’ll have to produce a lot more performances like this between now and May.”

Hodgson also singled out the club?s new owners as having helped boost confidence at Anfield.

New England Sports Ventures ended the turbulent three year co-ownership of George Gillett and Tom Hicks when they bought Liverpool for 300 million pounds last month.

Hodgson is thrilled with how it is all going but that does not mean he feels all his problems are now solved.

“The new owners gave us hope that things can be turned around,” he added. “But we’re not there because we’ve won one game.

“Our squad needs to be a lot stronger than it is, and that can only be done in the transfer windows to come.”

Forward Dirk Kuyt echoed Hodgson?s sentiments and insisted winning against Wigan at the DW Stadium was crucial if Liverpool’s recent momentum was not to be a flash in the pan.

“We have a new manager and new players and sometimes it takes a while for everything to click together,” the Dutch international said.

“We can all see it is getting better and better. We now go to Wigan on Wednesday and we want to get another three points and then we’ll be soon in the top-four again.”

Wigan lost to Blackburn Rovers at the weekend, although they can consider themselves unlucky not to have come away with at least a point.

Charles N’Zogbia had a goal harshly ruled out in the first half while the Latics pushed and probed throughout the encounter but could not quite get back into the contest.

Liverpool are likely to prove to be difficult opponents but Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is pleased with how his side are currently playing and is confident that this season will not follow the relegation-haunted manner of last term if they continue to play football.

“The Blackburn scoreline kills you in the short term but in the bigger picture we have done better and it looks good long term.”

Wigan are likely to need N’Zgobia firing on all cylinders if they are to be a serious threat to Liverpool.

The French midfielder was Wigan?s best player against Blackburn but is likely to attract interest from bigger clubs when the transfer window opens in January.

“We all know the quality he has got,” Martinez added. “We have been working on his strength as well and he is a stronger player than he was last season.

“What happens with him in January is not in my hands.

“I take it as a compliment that other teams are looking at our players. I am happy with the squad though. It is strong and whatever happens in the window we will look at making sure our squad is stronger.”

Emmerson Boyce (hamstring) and James McCarthy (ankle) will be absent for Wigan while Liverpool are likely to be without Daniel Agger for three months with a calf injury while Joe Cole (hamstring) and Ryan Babel (rib) will also miss this game.