LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is back in full-blown crisis mode ahead of Bolton Wanderers’ visit to Anfield here today.
Hodgson is on the brink at the club as even the club’s American owners are losing patience.
The under-fire Kop boss hit back at fans who turned on him during the Anfield humiliation by Wolves.
And John W Henry feels Hodgson dropped a major clanger by having a go at supporters.
And after Wednesday’s pitiful display, sources close to Henry’s New England Sports Ventures group also admit the Americans fear players are not performing for Hodgson.
Boss Hodgson, 63, slammed fans who chanted Kenny Dalglish’s name and “Hodgson for England.”
He said: “I don’t like hearing those things. Ever since I came here, the famous Anfield support hasn’t really been there.”
Henry would prefer to see the season out before making such a major decision as axing the manager.
Yet if results do not pick up – starting at home to Bolton today – Hodgson will be lucky to stay be in charge.
One man leaving Liverpool is chief scout Eduardo Macia, whose role has been taken over by director of football strategy Damien Comolli.
Hodgson was never the fans’ choice to replace Rafa Benitez pre-season and his credibility has now hit rock bottom after Wednesday’s appalling performance.
The loss left Liverpool in the bottom half of the table on 22 points – their lowest points tally heading into a New Year since 1953-54, when they were relegated from the top flight.
Liverpool’s fans clearly want a change of management and they sang the name of Anfield great and former boss Kenny Dalglish during the Wolves match, a hammer blow to Hodgson’s prestige and standing with the supporters.
But the defiant former Fulham manager risked alienating what few friends he has among the Liverpool faithful by questioning what had happened to the “famous Anfield support“.
“Ever since I came here the famous Anfield support has not really been here for whatever reason.
“I’ve had to live with it from the start. We’re not deliberately losing matches and we’re not deliberately going out not to play well.
“We need the supporters to try and help us along. Negativity does affect confidence.”
When things aren’t going well, fans tend to do these things.”
FIVE IN THE FRAME TO REPLACE HODGSON
OWEN COYLE
BOLTON chief won huge praise for his job at the Reebok. At 44, he fits the bill age-wise, and has a growing reputation for getting the most out of his players. His style of play would also go down well at Anfield.
FRANK RIJKAARD
STARTED the Barcelona revolution by blooding Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol. Sacked in 2008 and lasted just 14 months at Galatasaray but still highly-rated.
DIDIER DESCHAMPS
THE 42-year-old will be the front-runner as and when Hodgson goes, having come close to getting the job when Rafa Benitez left. Led Marseille to their first title in 18 years and knows England after a year at Chelsea and only contract up to 2012.
JURGEN KLOPP
DORTMUND manager, 43, is rated as one of the best young bosses in Europe. His side are 10 points clear in the Bundesliga, and he is already being tipped for one of the game’s real big jobs. Has a contract until 2014 but the lure of Liverpool would be hard to resist.
KENNY DALGLISH
A SENTIMENTAL choice but a short-term option until a permanent boss is found. A Kop legend and hugely popular with fans – and fact he’s already there in an ambassadorial role would also make him a convenient option.
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