Hansen: Hodgson is beginning to reap what Benitez sowed
Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes Roy Hodgson’s difficult beginnings at the Anfield helm are being undermined by the previous managerial regime of Rafa Benitez.
Much of the preseason optimism has evaporated at Liverpool according to the aforementioned Anfield hero, but Hansen believes Hodgson has already made inroads into a squad that was in desperate need of an overhaul, praising the additions of Raul Meireles and Joe Cole.
Hansen, who won eight league titles during his illustrious Liverpool career, believes Hodgson needs time for his team to gel but ultimately the former Fulham boss will be judged on results.
The former Liverpool captain told the Daily Telegraph: “Roy Hodgson is beginning to reap what Rafael Benítez sowed in his final 18 months.
“When he replaced Benítez as manager of Liverpool, Hodgson accepted an incredibly hard job because he was left with a team that, while not in total disarray, simply were not good enough.
“If you set out to challenge for a Champions League position and finish in seventh, then the team are clearly not up to requirements.
“Hodgson knew the task facing him at Liverpool when he left Fulham, and you have to say that he has already cleared out some of the dead wood and replaced those players with better personnel.
“But it is all about results, and when they are not going your way, people will begin to ask questions.
“After the defeat at Manchester United, it is clear that Liverpool are still suffering from the same problems away from home that they have had for a while.
“They were abysmal away from Anfield last season and have only managed one point from three away games so far in this campaign.
“The big concern, just five games into the season, is that Liverpool already find themselves 10 points behind Chelsea because, at the outset of the campaign, there was real optimism that they could put up a good show in the title race.
“After ending the last campaign in doom and gloom, there was a lot of hope at Anfield generated by the signing of Joe Cole and the announcements by both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard that they were staying at the club.
“It was a lift for everybody and, with a couple of good signings in Raul Meireles and Christian Poulsen, the outlook appeared much brighter.
“I am not saying that I expected Liverpool to win the title, but I certainly believed they could put up a decent show.
“You have to say that the hope and optimism has diminished after just five games.
“Progress has been made by Hodgson, but despite the reality that his players will take time to gel into a team, results are everything.
“So despite the positives that Hodgson has already brought in his time as manager, the story so far is mixed and the emotions of the supporters are fluctuating between high and low.”
CLICKY
Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes Roy Hodgson’s difficult beginnings at the Anfield helm are being undermined by the previous managerial regime of Rafa Benitez.
Much of the preseason optimism has evaporated at Liverpool according to the aforementioned Anfield hero, but Hansen believes Hodgson has already made inroads into a squad that was in desperate need of an overhaul, praising the additions of Raul Meireles and Joe Cole.
Hansen, who won eight league titles during his illustrious Liverpool career, believes Hodgson needs time for his team to gel but ultimately the former Fulham boss will be judged on results.
The former Liverpool captain told the Daily Telegraph: “Roy Hodgson is beginning to reap what Rafael Benítez sowed in his final 18 months.
“When he replaced Benítez as manager of Liverpool, Hodgson accepted an incredibly hard job because he was left with a team that, while not in total disarray, simply were not good enough.
“If you set out to challenge for a Champions League position and finish in seventh, then the team are clearly not up to requirements.
“Hodgson knew the task facing him at Liverpool when he left Fulham, and you have to say that he has already cleared out some of the dead wood and replaced those players with better personnel.
“But it is all about results, and when they are not going your way, people will begin to ask questions.
“After the defeat at Manchester United, it is clear that Liverpool are still suffering from the same problems away from home that they have had for a while.
“They were abysmal away from Anfield last season and have only managed one point from three away games so far in this campaign.
“The big concern, just five games into the season, is that Liverpool already find themselves 10 points behind Chelsea because, at the outset of the campaign, there was real optimism that they could put up a good show in the title race.
“After ending the last campaign in doom and gloom, there was a lot of hope at Anfield generated by the signing of Joe Cole and the announcements by both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard that they were staying at the club.
“It was a lift for everybody and, with a couple of good signings in Raul Meireles and Christian Poulsen, the outlook appeared much brighter.
“I am not saying that I expected Liverpool to win the title, but I certainly believed they could put up a decent show.
“You have to say that the hope and optimism has diminished after just five games.
“Progress has been made by Hodgson, but despite the reality that his players will take time to gel into a team, results are everything.
“So despite the positives that Hodgson has already brought in his time as manager, the story so far is mixed and the emotions of the supporters are fluctuating between high and low.”
CLICKY
from now on I will skip talking about our finances. That is a promise and will save myself from looking like a 
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