Five issues Roy Hodgson must resolve to save his job at Liverpool

Posted Tuesday, October 19, 2010 by theguardian.com

Off the field things are looking up at Anfield but the manager's problems are mounting

Five issues Roy Hodgson must resolve to save his job at Liverpool
Roy Hodgson is yet to dazzle in his managerial role at Anfield.

Show the new owners that he too has a winning mentality

"What drives us is winning," said Tom Werner following New England Sports Ventures' takeover. For £300m, and with their track record at the Boston Red Sox, it is only natural he and John W Henry would have reservations over someone who has made the worst start of a Liverpool manager since 1928. Hodgson has been assured his position is safe – although the Americans wasted little time dispensing with the coach they inherited at Fenway Park in 2002 – but even in trying, transitional times at Anfield he has not presented a strong case that he can steady the ship. Hodgson is unlikely to benefit from co-owners who are new to the sport. Joe Januszewski has been a Liverpool fanatic for 20 years. He is also the senior vice-president of corporate sales for the Red Sox and Fenway Enterprises. It was his email that urged Henry to consider buying Liverpool. Januszewski, a passionate supporter with an impressive knowledge of the club, was in Istanbul and vividly remembers his first visit to Anfield, a 1-0 defeat by Manchester United in 2005 when "Rooney scored a soft goal in the Kop end and pulled the Shrek ears". He was with Henry and Werner at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Get the fans onside

The message from the top has impressed Liverpool fans, but only when delivered by the club's new owners. Henry and Werner continued their exhaustive rounds yesterday when they met five local MPs to discuss the problematic stadium issue. "We asked were there any definite plans," said Steve Rotheram, the MP for Walton. "They said there aren't any at the moment but that there will be a new stadium, whether that means there will be a new stadium or a redevelopment on the present footprint." Henry also told representatives from the Spirit of Shankly supporters' union: "If it wasn't for yourselves and supporters doing what you have, we wouldn't be here now." How Hodgson could do with the Americans' communication skills. Describing Sunday's pitiful derby display as the best of his short Liverpool tenure was an insult to supporters trying to comprehend a passionless defeat and 19th place in the Premier League.

Re-engage Fernando Torres

The Liverpool striker's frustration betrayed him against Everton. He told Jamie Carragher to "shut up" inside three minutes at Goodison Park and looked over-anxious in front of goal, but poor individual form is not only to blame. The service to the Spain international has been abysmal all season. Even fully fit and secure in his surroundings, Torres would struggle to prosper on a diet of long, hopeful punts towards the corner flag. He has been isolated tactically and personally under Liverpool's new manager. Steven Gerrard was supposed to provide Torres's main support against Everton but, along with his team-mates, was too deep to make an impact. Being singled out as the only Liverpool player with a confidence problem by his manager is also unlikely to help Torres. "I didn't see a lack of confidence in Maxi Rodríguez, Raul Meireles or Steven Gerrard," said Hodgson on Sunday. "Fernando is going through a bad time and if you are talking about him I'd have to agree, but there are not too many lacking confidence."

Get Joe Cole playing again

Dividing Hodgson's problems into five categories only begins to cover the extent of the overhaul required but he desperately needs his own signings to improve to convince NESV to trust him with transfer funds. Liverpool's left flank was neither solid nor creative at Goodison, and Paul Konchesky and Joe Cole cannot be blamed on Rafael Benítez. Cole has endured a difficult start to his Anfield career and, now that Gerrard has returned to the central role he and the former Chelsea man prefer, the club's statement signing this summer is struggling to impress wide on the left. A lack of pace is telling but how to maximise the talents of Cole and Gerrard in the same team is a conundrum Hodgson has yet to solve. At least the England international is not hiding. "We are not playing well. I'm not playing well. I know that. I expect better from myself," said Cole after the derby. "There are characters here. I'm looking at myself – nobody else. I need to do a lot better for the club. I've never had a period like this before and it is all new territory for me but it is a challenge and life is never easy."

Plug the leaks in defence

Hodgson has not had any luck with his defenders. Daniel Agger, with whom the manager appears to have a fractious relationship, remains plagued by a serious back injury and Konchesky and Glen Johnson have also been sidelined. The England right-back has also suffered an alarming drop in form and looks a pale imitation of the £18m signing of last season, and even José Reina's commanding aura in goal has occasionally been misplaced. Liverpool's defence badly needs an injection of pace but many of its problems are self-inflicted. Hodgson pinpointed the number of games that Liverpool have had to chase this season as a reason for poor results, yet his gameplan – sitting deep at Everton, for example – invites trouble.