Sunday, September 19, 2010

Roy Hodgson: Result Against Manchester United Is Not Pivotal To Liverpool's Season

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is hoping his team can avoid a second defeat in Manchester as they visit Old Trafford on Sunday to play Manchester United.

The Reds have had a difficult start to the season having already played Arsenal, Manchester City and Birmingham, games that have seen them secure only two points, with the home victory against West Brom the only shining light on their campaign so far.

However Hodgson believes a win at Old Trafford would provide a massive confidence boost, although has stated that the result will not be pivotal at the end of the season.

"You might get the shots in the arm which you help you or the kicks in the backside which bring you down, but the health of a football club should be judged by what goes on on a daily basis," Hodgson told Sky Sports.

"It is a part of football life and players need to be aware of that.

"If you have had the kick in the teeth, and it might be deserved, that is the reminder you have to do better.

"But when you get the shot in the arm that is the little reminder you have to be careful to keep your feet on the ground because around the corner disaster awaits.

"Having said that, we have had a really difficult start in the league and that does not get any easier, us having to go to Manchester United.

"But I see very positive signs and I'm very confident that the longer we work together, come May hopefully we will have a decent season behind us.

"This match has come a little bit early. Five games into the season is a poor time for barometer readings - they need to come at least a third of the way through the season.

"I would be very surprised if the intelligent people out there who understand the season is a marathon not a sprint will start reading too much into a defeat for one or the other teams."

Hodgson also admitted Liverpool will have to defend well if they are to get anything against United but has revealed he will use the same structure that proved successful in the Reds' 4-1 win over Steaua Bucharest at Anfield on Thursday night.

"We are going to put a team out which will defend well and attack well - something which we have tried to do in every game we've played so far," he continued

"Sometimes we will succeed better than others but that is football.

"The first thing to do when you go to Old Trafford is to defend well because there are some very good attackers.

"They are very dangerous offensively so if your defensive set-up is wanting then they will punish you.

"But we won't change our system from the way we played on Thursday.

"The things we tried to do against Steaua were exactly the same things we tried to do against West Brom and Birmingham with less success.

"Nothing changes. We know what we have to do, we know what principles we work under and we will keep working at it and keep trying to produce it on the field."

No comments: