LIVERPOOL: Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole has warned his team-mates that they must kick-on in the Premier League after insisting the players are fully behind manager Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson’s position at Anfield is the subject of intense speculation following a string of poor results, with reports claiming Liverpool’s US owners have decided the former Fulham manager is not the man to lead the club forward.
According to several articles in the British press, the Fenway Sports Group have actively begun the task of seeking out a successor and will remove Hodgson before the end of the season if they can find the right replacement.
Last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Bolton has at least afforded Hodgson some much needed breathing space ahead of Wednesday’s match away to his former club, Blackburn Rovers.
Former Chelsea midfielder Cole, who scored the winner against Bolton, insisted Hodgson retained the support of the dressing room.
But he added Liverpool cannot afford to drop more points at Ewood Park as they look to cement their place in the top half of the table ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie at bitter rivals Manchester United.
“We are all behind the manager. We all want to put this club in the right direction and keep working hard,” said Cole, whose goal against Bolton was his first for Liverpool in the Premier League.
“We are all out there playing for the shirt and the manager. We have all got to stick together because there is no-one bigger than the club.
“It is not just the newspapers, none of us like losing and getting criticised but half the battle of modern day football is dealing with pressure.
“We are pleased (with the victory over Bolton) for the fans, the owners and the manager but we have all got to stick together and kick on from here, it can’t be a false dawn.”
Cole, a substitute against Bolton, is pressing for a return to the starting line up against Blackburn following his goalscoring heroics.
This is the first of six games in 21 days for Liverpool and Hodgson has already indicated he will utilise his squad during the hectic period.
But Hodgson, who managed Blackburn between June 1997 and November 1998, also knows he risks upsetting supporters if he makes too many changes.
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