MyMSN News: Liverpool on road to recovery says Hodgson

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson believes his team are making slow but steady progress on the road to recovery after scoring a morale-boosting win over Blackburn.

Liverpool on road to recovery says Hodgson

Hodgson has faced question marks over his future after the English giants slumped to their worst start to the season for 57

years, which has left them in the relegation zone even after Sunday's 2-1 victory over Rovers.

But the former Fulham boss is refusing to get carried away by this weekend's win over fellow strugglers Blackburn, even if he does believe Liverpool are showing signs of improvement.

"I'd be lying if I said it felt like a turning point. That would be a facile thing to say," Hodgson said.

"I've got faith in the team and the way we played in several of the games. We were worse at the beginning but we have got better."

Hodgson said he had been encouraged by statistics from Liverpool's 2-0 defeat in the Merseyside derby to Everton, which indicated the team were on the right track.

"I saw the statistics the other day from the Everton game and I've never in my Premier League career seen statistics as positive as they were in terms of passing, accuracy and tempo of passing, number of shots and crosses," he said.

"Those statistics hearten you because you know you are not playing badly but they don't get you any points.

"We had the same level of passing and intensity against Blackburn but we were much more incisive, getting behind them down the flanks more.

"It was the right sort of performance; we've got to give another 29 like that and if we can do that then we won't go too far wrong."

Liverpool's next league assignment is a potentially awkward visit to Bolton on Sunday.

Technorati Tags: liverpool,hodgson,NESV,The Reds,You'll Never Walk Alone,Gerrard,Torres

myMetro: Hodgson harap Torres pulih imej The Reds

LIVERPOOL: Pengurus Liverpool, Roy Hodgson berharap Fernando Torres yang menjaringkan gol pertama sejak musim baru Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL) bermula Ogos lalu mencetus pemulihan prestasi pasukan yang tidak menentu.

Gol Torres itu membantu The Reds menewaskan Blackburn di Anfield sekali gus meredakan tekanan yang membebani Hodgson.

Penyerang antarabangsa Sepanyol itu dikritik selepas mempamerkan prestasi hambar musim ini berjaya meningkatkan prestasi ketika membantu Liverpool mencapai kemenangan dalam aksi babak kedua tapi The Reds kekal di kelompok tiga pasukan terbawah liga.

Kemenangan itu menerbitkan keyakinan Hodgson melihat Torres kembali menepati status sebagai antara penyerang paling digeruni di Eropah sebelum ini.

“Dia bermain lebih baik dan pasti menjaringkan gol pada setiap perlawanan,” kata Hodgson yang mengakui Liverpool amat memerlukan penyerang itu merubah nasib mereka.

“Prestasinya menurun sejak kembali dari Piala Dunia. Mungkin ia disebabkan terlalu banyak dikritik.

“Kini, dia kembali menikmati setiap permainan dan lebih bertenaga. Anda tidak boleh membuatkan seseorang pemain kembali berminat bermain. Dia perlu mencari sendiri keinginan itu dalam dirinya.” Hodgson berdepan kecaman sepanjang minggu ini berikutan suasana tegang di bilik persalinan Anfield namun menganggap kemenangan itu mungkin meredakan situasi.

Mereka menempuhi lapan perlawanan dalam semua kejohanan musim ini tanpa sebarang kemenangan, prestasi terburuk Liverpool di abad ini. - AFP

My KOSMO!: Sengsara Liverpool bermula

 

PENYERANG Liverpool, Joe Cole tidak dapat menahan kesedihan selepas pasukannya tewas 0-2 kepada Everton dalam saingan Liga Perdana England semalam.

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LONDON — Zaman sengsara Liverpool bermula dan pasukan itu dilihat berpotensi untuk turun ke liga divisyen satu musim depan. Hajat kelab itu untuk memulakan era baru dalam Liga Perdana England terus terencat.

Semalam, skuad kendalian Roy Hodgson itu mengalami kekalahan 0-2 kepada Everton dalam pertemuan dua kelab jiran setempat Merseyside tersebut.

Dua gol daripada Tim Cahill dan Mikel Arteta menjamin tiga mata penuh buat Everton yang berjaya melonjak ke tangga ke-11, manakala Liverpool jatuh ke tangga kedua tercorot liga.

Dengan pemilik baru kelab itu dari Amerika Syarikat, John W. Henry hadir untuk menonton perlawanan di Goodison Park itu, Liverpool tetap gagal menghadiahkan kejayaan yang amat dinanti-nantikan peminat mereka selepas isu pengambilalihan kelab tersebut sudah diselesaikan.

Kekalahan semalam juga menyaksikan skuad kendalian Roy Hodgson itu hanya mengutip enam mata daripada lapan perlawanan musim ini.

Ia memberi gambaran mengenai tugas sukar yang menanti pemiliknya, Henry dan Kumpulan New England Sports Ventures (NESV) untuk membina semula reputasi The Reds selaku pasukan elit yang kini semakin tenggelam. Apa yang pasti, kekalahan demi kekalahan yang dialami skuad dari Anfield itu boleh dikatakan sebagai landasan untuk mereka turun ke liga bawahan. - Agensi

Komen aku: Secara peribadi, kemerosotan berpunca daripada pengaruh kuat Benitez. Kalau sebelum ini, Benitez menafikan untuk tinggalkan Anfield, tetapi akhirnya beliau meninggalkannya. Selain itu, ia juga berpunca daripada Owner (Hikcs and Gillert) Liverpool yang seolah-olah mahu menghancurkan kelab gergasi itu.

Dan salah satu lagi sebab, cara formasi Roy Hodgson juga menjadi salah satu punca utama kenapa prestasi Liverpool hambar. Dalam salah satu interview, Daniel Agger ada menyatakan mereka tidak selesa bermain dengan cara “short passed” kerana mereka lebih selesa dengan “long passed” yang mereka telah praktikan sebelum ini. Roy sepatutnya tidak perlu mengubah cara permainan yang sedia ada, tetapi memperkemaskan barisan pertahanan yang sanggat longgar.

Yang pasti, menjelang Januari, aku pasti ramai player Liverpool akan pergi meninggalkan kelab gergasi itu. Selain dari Glen Johnson yang telah menyatakan hasratnya untuk meninggalkan kelab itu. Beberapa tonggak utama yang telahpun meninggalkan Liverpool seperti Mascherano.

Manchester United vs Liverpool Preview

 

By Chris Wright on September 17th, 2010 - Comments Off

Manchester United vs Liverpool
Premier League
Old Trafford, Manchester
Sunday, 19th September 2010
13:30 BST

Old Trafford will play host to what is arguably the biggest game of the fledgling Premier League season so far, as two clubs mired in one of football’s bitterest and unflinching rivalries meet for the first time in 2010/11.

At this early stage of the campaign it would seem that the only real prize on offer is the re-distribution of the bragging rights, but with fellow title contenders Chelsea already starting to pull away after a faultless start, both Manchester United and Liverpool have ground to make up if they are to stand any realistic chance of sating their relentless appetites for domestic silverware.

Watch Manchester United vs Liverpool live online. Click here to sign up.

A win may prove to be critical for either side as Chelsea themselves welcome newly-promoted Blackpool to Stamford Bridge on Sunday and (with all due respect to the Seasider’s, who have put in some impressive displays in the top flight so far) Carlo Ancelotti‘s side can therefore expect to extend there 100% record with a fairly straightforward points-harvest.

The formbook:

It’s fair to say that neither side is yet to deliver a resoundingly consummate performance this season, although United have definitely come the closest with comfortable – if not exhilarating – 3-0 wins over West Ham and Newcastle sitting either side of their frustrating 2-2 draw with a spirited Fulham side at the tail-end of last month.

United would have, however, made it a fairly convincing three wins from their first four Premier League games (leaving them a mere two points behind Chelsea, and level with Arsenal) were it not for Everton’s stroke-inducing last-ditch comeback at Goodison Park last weekend – so it’s safe to say that their current form is good, not great, but good.

Liverpool have managed just one solitary victory this term (shading out West Brom by the narrowest of margins) leaving them seven points off the pace. Roy Hodgson‘s side have also found league goals worryingly hard to come by, managing a total of two during their opening four fixtures.

The high-profile slump in form and fitness of their main goal-threat Fernando Torres continues to be a point of debate, but one suspects that a couple of goals on Sunday may stem the flow of criticism fairly effectively – although the Spaniard’s dour demeanor throughout Liverpool’s drab stalemate with Birmingham last weekend was hardly encouraging.

Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring against Man Utd in 2009

The last five Premier League meetings:

• 23 March 2008, Manchester United 3–0 Liverpool, Old Trafford
• 13 September 2008, Liverpool 2–1 Manchester United, Anfield
• 14 March 2009, Manchester United 1–4 Liverpool, Old Trafford
• 25 October 2009, Liverpool 2–0 Manchester United, Anfield
• 21 March 2010, Manchester United 2–1 Liverpool, Old Trafford

The build-up in quotes:

“We’ve played eight, won five, drawn two and lost one. I don’t think that’s a bad start to the season by any stretch of the imagination. It is a new team and it has been a tough start to the season.”

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson defends his team’s start to the season.

“It is clear that he is still a million miles short of peak condition and a long way away from what is expected and demanded in the Premier League.”

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has his say over the form of Fernando Torres.

“We bear strong expectations at this club. Everyone is interested in us – we fill newspapers, we fill airtime and everything that happens at the club is put under a microscope, and that includes players’ performances.

Fernando Torres has got no problems with that – he’s an excellent player, he’s very much committed and focused on this season.”

Hodgson again, on Torres’ perceived lack of motivation.

“The crowd will light up. It’s usually a quick game and it’s usually a ferocious game, so hopefully it’s the kind of game that sets us back on the winning trail. No matter how the teams are doing, it’s always the big game of the season.

It’s always the one you look forward to, the atmosphere will be brilliant here and all the players will be up for it. You just feel that intensity when you play Liverpool, no matter how they are doing.”

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs is confident that the game will be a spectacle.

“The manager has a decision to make with the players. There were ten changes for the Rangers game and it could be the same again on Sunday. Hopefully I will be picked and part of the team. I have got to get picked first.”

United defender Rio Ferdinand is hoping to keep his place in the team after returning to the first string against Rangers in the Champions League.

Luis Valencia after suffering a broken ankle against Rangers

Injury updates:

Manchester United will be without winger Luis Valencia, who suffered a sickening ankle injury against Rangers midweek, as well as Michael Carrick (Achilles), Owen Hargreaves (plasticine knees) and Anderson (not fully fit after knee and ankle injuries).

Liverpool will be missing Dirk Kuyt, who sheered ligaments in his shoulder whilst attempting a bicycle kick during training whilst away on international duty, and Fabio Aurelio (Achilles).

Key players:

As far as Manchester United’s key player is concerned, it’s hard to see past striker and link-man-in-chief Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian has stepped it up this season after being forced to the fore by Wayne Rooney‘s loss of form and very public ‘private issues’. The wide-spread indifference he was shown last season has since been replaced with a new-found appreciation for his laconic style after a vastly improved goal return of four in five games.

Liverpool will hoping for a sterling performance from their captain Steven Gerrard and, given the circumstances, they are more-or-less guaranteed to find him at his chest-swelling best. Gerrard will have to maintain a much more advanced position than he did against Birmingham if Torres isn’t to become completely isolated again, which would therefore make the presence of the more creative Raul Meireles in the midfield (rather than the prosaic duo of Lucas and Christian Poulsen) a necessity.

Read more: http://soccerlens.com/manchester-united-liverpool/36157/#ixzz0zvOi8s2c

Source: http://soccerlens.com

Classic Clash – Man United vs Liverpool

 

Pertemuan klasik United-Liverpool

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MANCHESTER - Alex Ferguson masih menganggap Liverpool sebagai pesaing utama Manchester United meskipun prestasi kelab Anfield itu tidak menentu sejak akhir-akhir ini.

Ketika ini, Ferguson sedang dalam proses persiapan untuk berdepan skuad kendalian Roy Hodgson itu di Old Trafford malam ini.

Untuk rekod, kedua-dua kelab London itu telah memenangi 18 gelaran Liga Perdana England setakat ini.

Pengurus Red Devils itu mengakui bahawa ketika dia tiba di Old Trafford pada 1986, misinya adalah untuk mengatasi pencapaian Liverpool.

Ketika United dipintas Chelsea pada perebutan gelaran liga musim lepas, prestasi Liverpool pula amat mengecewakan apabila mereka hanya mampu menamatkan saingan di tempat ketujuh.

Meskipun Ferguson memberitahu Chelsea adalah pencabar utama United dan Manchester City pula sekali lagi telah berbelanja besar pada musim ini, dia menegaskan pertemuan dengan Liverpool masih lagi menjadi aksi paling penting dalam kariernya.

"Saya telah katakan bahawa pertemuan ini adalah sesuatu yang amat dinantikan oleh saya dan seluruh kelab ini, tidak diragui lagi mengenainya.

"Berdasarkan sejarah, pertemuan ini selalunya amat ditunggu-tunggu oleh semua peminat bola sepak. Saya tidak perlu ceritakan tentang sejarah ini lagi," kata Ferguson.

Ferguson juga menyalahkan bekas pengurus The Reds, Rafael Benitez di atas segala masalah peribadi yang tercetus di antaranya dengan jurulatih baru Inter Milan itu.

Mengenai masalah kewangan yang menimpa Liverpool, Ferguson berkata: "Ketika akhir era penguasaan Benitez, dia banyak berbelanja ke atas pemain, jauh lebih banyak daripada Manchester United.

"Mereka mempunyai skuad pemain yang besar, jadi saya tidak tahu adakah ia ada kaitan dengan masalah mereka atau tidak."

Ketegangan di antara Ferguson dan Benitez juga semakin memuncak berikutan kritikan jurulatih dari Sepanyol itu pada Januari 2009.

Namun Ferguson berkata: "Saya tidak pernah menyimpan dendam secara peribadi. Kamu kena tanya dia, bukan saya.

"Saya sentiasa mempunyai hubungan yang baik dengan pengurus-pengurus Liverpool. Cuma ia berubah pada era pengurus terakhir yang lalu." – AFP

(sumber: Kosmo Online)

HMetro: Reds Megah (I Like It)

PARIS: Liverpool kembali bangkit selepas hampir dikejutkan kelab kurang ternama dari Romania, Unirea Urziceni sebelum menang 3-1, membolehkan mereka melangkah ke pusingan 16 pasukan terbaik Liga Europa.
Bagaimanapun kelab gergasi Serie A, Roma tersingkir daripada kejohanan selepas tewas 3-2 di laman sendiri kepada Panathinaikos dari Greece, ketika penyandang juara Piala UEFA, Shakhtar Donetsk ditunjuk jalan keluar oleh satu lagi pasukan Liga Perdana Inggeris, Fulham.
Liverpool yang mendahului dengan agregat 1-0 pada perlawanan pertama yang sengit di Anfield minggu lalu bagaimanapun ketinggalan pada minit ke-19 di Stadium Steaua, Bucharest apabila Joao Bruno Fernandes melompat tinggi mengatasi pertahanan The Reds untuk menanduk masuk sepakan penjuru yang diambil Razvan Paduretu.

Pasukan bimbingan Rafael Benitez menyamakan kedudukan 11 minit kemudian menerusi rembatan Javier Mascherano dari jarak 25 ela yang menerjah penjuru bawah di sebelah kiri gawang tuan rumah.

Pemain sayap Belanda, Ryan Babel melengkapkan kebangkitan Liverpool empat minit sebelum separuh masa pertama berakhir apabila berjaya mengawal bola sebelum menyudahkannya dengan cemerlang manakala Steven Gerrard melengkapkan kemenangan pada awal separuh masa kedua.

Roma yang menyaksikan rekod 20 perlawanan tanpa kalah mereka berakhir ketika tewas 3-2 di Panathinaikos minggu lalu berjaya menyamakan agregat pada minit ke-11 di Stadio Olimpico menerusi sepakan percuma menarik John Arne Riise.

Pelawat kemudian menguasai perlawanan dan enam minit sebelum separuh masa pertama berakhir, Djibil Cisse (gambar) yang menjaringkan gol kemenangan pada perlawanan pertama minggu lalu kembali meletakkan Panathinaikos dengan dua gol pada kedua-dua babak hasil hantaran Sotiris Ninis.

Daniele De Rossi membalasnya untuk jaringan Roma pada separuh masa kedua.

Fulham mungkin paling mengejutkan apabila berupaya mengikat pasukan gergasi Ukraine, Shakhtar 1-1 untuk mara ke pusingan 16 pasukan terbaik menentang sama ada Juventus atau Ajax.

Berbekalkan kelebihan tipis 2-1 sebelum perlawanan kedua, Fulham hampir berdepan kekalahan apabila di asak bertubi-tubi pasukan tuan rumah sebelum mereka lebih dulu memperolehi jaringan di gelanggang lawan pada minit ke-33 apabila Brede Hangeland menanduk masuk sepakan percuma Damien Duff. - AFP

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