Liverpool shield Hodgson from media

Liverpool cancelled a pre-match press conference for under-fire manager Roy Hodgson ahead of their FA Cup tie at Manchester United.

The pre-match briefing was due to take place at 1.30pm London time at the club’s Melwood training ground on Friday, but was cancelled with less than two hours’ notice.

Instead, a pre-recorded interview with Liverpool TV will be posted to the club’s website.

Hodgson, 63, has been the subject of intense speculation tipping him for the sack after Liverpool’s poor first half of the season.

The pressure mounted with a 3-1 defeat away to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, a loss which left the team 12th on the table, 19 points behind leaders United and just four points away from the relegation zone.

Hodgson left the post-match press conference early at Ewood Park after refusing to discuss speculation about his future.

Liverpool’s owners are reportedly actively searching for a replacement, while former manager and Anfield favourite Kenny Daglish has been mentioned as a potential caretaker.