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• Hodgson tries to put Liverpool’s slump into perspective
• ‘We all know in football you have good and bad moments’

Roy Hodgson, the Liverpool manager, says he still has faith in his ability as a manager despite the club’s current slump, but admits he is enduring “a bad moment”.

A home defeat to Blackpool has left the club 18th in the Premier League and questions are being asked as to whether Hodgson was the right man to replace Rafael Benítez.

The 63-year-old was the League Managers Association’s manager of the year last season after guiding Fulham to the Europa League final, where they lost to Atlético Madrid in extra time.

His Anfield start has been dreadful, however, with three defeats, three draws and only one victory in their opening seven league matches

The start to his reign at Anfield has not gone according to plan however, with three defeats, three draws and only one victory in the opening seven league matches. Liverpool were also, humiliatingly, dumped out of the Carling Cup by the League Two strugglers Northampton Town. But Hodgson said he has not lost faith in his capabilities or methods.

“I don’t think you go from being as feted as I was in May to losing any ability three months later,” he said. “I know the question is going to get asked but it shouldn’t really be asked by people who have been in football a long time, because we all know in football you have good and bad moments.

“At the end of May I was having a fantastic moment and here at the beginning of October I’m having bad moments. But I don’t think I have suddenly changed or lost any ability which has served me so well in 35 years of coaching.”

The international break could not have come at a worse time for Liverpool as it means they will be stuck in the bottom three until at least 17 October, when they make the trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Hodgson has admitted he has a lot to work to do but knows he has little time to work with his players, with most of his first-team squad away with their national teams.

“There is no point in me racking my brains or tearing my hair out about the situation which exists if I cannot change it,” he said. “The players will not be here for two weeks, I will not see them and it will be a major blow for myself. It would have been good to have spent some time with them in the coming days to at least help them get over the bitter pill we have had to swallow [the defeat to Blackpool].”

The transfer window is not open again for almost three months but, even if he had money to spend – and it seems unlikely there will be much come January unless there is good news on the sale of the club – the Liverpool manager knows he has to get more out of his current squad.

“We have to trust in the players we have here to get it right because until January we can do nothing about it.”

Roy HodgsonLiverpoolguardian.co.uk

• Paul Hayward: Liverpool take first step out of the darkness
• Hodgson signs three-year deal and will be unveiled today

Roy Hodgson has been confirmed the 18th manager in Liverpool’s history this morning, having finalised the terms of his departure from Fulham.

The 62-year-old arrived at Melwood, the club’s training ground, in time to meet the first batch of players reporting back for pre-season training today and will be publicly unveiled at Anfield at 1.30pm. He has signed a three-year contract to succeed Rafael Benítez, not the two-year deal that was originally suggested as Liverpool look for stability following a turbulent period under the debt-ridden regime of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

• Paul Hayward: Hodgson must purge obscure players
• This will herald a new Liverpool era – Thompson
• From Halmstad to Anfield: a well-travelled manager
• Hodgson is the right man for Liverpool – Murphy

Hodgson was voted Manager of the Year by the League Managers’ Association last season, having guided Fulham to the Europa League final, and had to negotiate bonus payments from the Craven Cottage club before completing his move to Merseyside. Liverpool also had to pay a £2.5m compensation clause to release Hodgson from his 12-month rolling contract with Fulham.

“This is the biggest job in club football and I’m honoured to be taking on the role of manager of Britain’s most successful football club,” said the former Internazionale, Udinese and Switzerland coach. “I look forward to meeting the players and the supporters and getting down to work at Melwood.”

Hodgson’s appointment has not received universal acclaim by Liverpool supporters, although his European pedigree and success in transforming Fulham’s fortunes on a modest budget made him the favoured choice of the Anfield hierarchy.

Liverpool’s managing director, Christian Purslow, who Benítez claimed was behind his departure as manager and who led the search for the Spaniard’s successor, was the target of graffiti found on the walls of the stadium this morning.

The new Liverpool manager faces a difficult task of reviving a club who finished seventh in the Premier League last season and are beset by financial problems, with the American co-owners’ asking price for the club discouraging potential investors. He must also convince Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano, three leading players whose Liverpool futures are uncertain, to resist any rival offers for their services this summer.

Roy HodgsonLiverpoolAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk

• Formalities of move from Fulham soon to be completed
• End of month was deadline for successor to Rafael Benítez

Roy Hodgson is expected to be appointed new Liverpool manager within the next 24 hours once the formalities of his move from Premier League rivals Fulham have been completed.

Liverpool set themselves a deadline of the end of the month to find a successor to Rafael Benítez, left 27 days ago after a disappointing season saw the club finish seventh in the table.

It is believed it will cost Liverpool a reported £2m to release the Englishman from his contract at Craven Cottage.

Former player and manager Kenny Dalglish, who was part of the selection process with managing director Christian Purslow and is currently an ambassador for the club’s academy, had expressed an interest in returning to a role he enjoyed great success in the late 1980s and early 1990s but has been overlooked for the post.

Hodgson’s name has also been linked with England after their disappointing World Cup campaign under Fabio Capello but Liverpool were already in advanced negotiations with the current League Managers’ Association manager of the year.

Roy HodgsonLiverpoolPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk