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Posts Tagged ‘simply-relieved’

• Manager faces ’soft debut’, then Arsenal in Premier League
• Liverpool take two-goal lead into Europa League return

One minute he is being labelled a treacherous “bugger” by Mohamed Al Fayed for leaving Fulham, the next he is the Midas of Liverpool for convincing Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to resist moves that never got off the ground. It probably explains Roy Hodgson’s sanity after 34 years in football management that he can ignore such extremes, although even the self-confessed “ultimate pragmatist” expects his Anfield honeymoon to withstand a second date with FK Rabotnicki in the Europa League.

Hodgson has every right to savour a serene start at Liverpool when he steps into the home dug-out at Anfield for the first time as manager tonight, but insists there is “nothing spectacular” planned and is reluctant to accept any premature garlands being thrown his way. “We haven’t lost yet. Things can change very quickly, don’t you worry,” said Rafael Benítez’s replacement as manager yesterday.

He was also the voice of reason on the prospect of being lavished with transfer funds should Kenny Huang, or any prospective buyer, finally end Tom Hicks’ and George Gillett’s miserable hold on the club. “I’d like to see the sun shining every day, I’d like to see a lot of things happening every day, but I’m learning to be the ultimate pragmatist and will take each day as it comes,” he ventured.

At least Hodgson is sufficiently emboldened to believe his run of form will continue in the competition that helped attract him to Anfield. Leading 2-0 from the first leg in Macedonia last week, Liverpool can call on their England World Cup contingent of Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Jamie Carragher for the Europa League third qualifying round, second leg tie and Hodgson is confident his first victory at Anfield can be achieved with minimum fuss. “When you take on the job, you do it because you want to be leading the team out at Anfield,” said Hodgson. “That’s going to be the highlight of your time as manager. It’s been five weeks now and the day has finally arrived and I’ll be looking forward to it. It’ll be like a mini-debut in a way.

“Having dealt with the opponents well enough in the first leg, it has taken the pressure off the second leg. I should be lucky enough to have a soft debut, then a real debut [against Arsenal in the Premier League] in 10 days’ time. I’m hoping my tenure will be a long one here and I can build up a rapport with the fans. I am very trusting of football supporters.”

Hodgson did not lose at Anfield in two appearances with Fulham and one with Blackburn Rovers, drawing each time. “A sample of three is not a big sample,” insists a manager who, with Torres and Gerrard confirmed on board, is simply relieved he is not making his debut as Liverpool manager with a blank canvas. Hodgson explained: “When you are offered a new job you hope that you are not going to start with a total rebuilding job . You don’t want to go to a new club needing players to make the squad stronger and replace the major cogs in your wheel.”

Liverpool (probable 4-2-3-1): Cavalieri; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger; Gerrard, Lucas; Amoo, Cole, Jovanovic; Ngog.

LiverpoolEuropa LeagueAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk