Gerrard - Liverpool on the up under Hodgson
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists Roy Hodgson's arrival as manager has already transformed the atmosphere at Anfield.
Gerrard's side ended last season in disarray as Rafael Benitez's reign petered out with the team suffering their worst Premier League finish for over a decade.
The Reds' morale was at rock-bottom as players lost faith with Benitez, who left Liverpool to take charge at Inter during the close-season.
But England star Gerrard believes Hodgson has erased all the gloom since his move to Merseyside from Fulham.
Hodgson has worked on lifting spirits by signing Joe Cole from Chelsea and persuading Gerrard and Fernando Torres to stay.
Even the bitter blow of Jose Reina's last minute own goal, which denied Liverpool a win over Arsenal in Sunday's Premier League opener hasn't dented the positive vibes among the squad and fans.
"My family are Liverpool fans, we are surrounded by them day in and day out. Of course I can feel the optimism, and rightly so," Gerrard said.
"We have got a good manager, we have kept hold of some top players and we have already got some top players here.
"If we can keep everyone fit I am very confident we can have a completely different season to last year. The boys are enjoying training and working very hard.
"There is a real buzz about the place and if we had got three points it would have been a magnificent start."
Liverpool's performance against Arsenal was all the more commendable after the dismissal of Joe Cole on the stroke of half-time for a foul on Laurent Koscielny.
Hodgson's team responded well to go ahead through David Ngog's fine strike before Reina's blunder and Gerrard said: "We were very unlucky not to see it out and take maximum points.
"I'm very proud of all the lads, I thought they put a tremendous shift in. When you are playing Arsenal in the opening game it is tough enough 11 v 11.
"To lose a man with a half to go and still get something out of the game, I'm really pleased. I thought they were disciplined and looked very fit."
Gerrard also had consoling words for Reina, who denied Tomas Rosicky with a fine fingertip save just moments before his blunder.
"He is one of the best keepers in the world but he will certainly make that up over the course of the season," Gerrard said.
"He is worth a lot of points to the lads, there is no doubt about that. Further down the line we will be 1-0 up or 1-0 down and he will make that class save, that's what he does."
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Mario Portelli
Aug 17th 2010, 13:38
Typical Man Utd fans ... more concerned about Liverpool's performances rather than theirs!
m.gauci
Aug 17th 2010, 15:14
can u tell me in which sentence or comment down here u are seeing the word ''Man.United'' ????or im blind ???
Mario Portelli
Aug 17th 2010, 15:51
"FYI I support the team who has won most of the cups on offer since the start of what is today known as the Premiership." ... I don't think he's referring to Doncaster Rovers or Leyton Orient is he??
victor borg
Aug 17th 2010, 11:02
Mr Farrugia I think you are living on the moon.
Bernard Farrugia
Aug 16th 2010, 17:40
From what we've seen in their first game against Arsenal yesterday, they're an even worse team this year than they were last year. Let's hope they manage to make some headway in the Europa league at least.
Joe Micallef
Aug 16th 2010, 18:21
To call that performance of a team without his star player, playing with a man less for 35 mins and with 2 men less for the last 10 mins as worse than last year you must be out of your mind and honestly do not have any idea what you are talking about ...
Bernard Farrugia
Aug 16th 2010, 18:42
@ Joe Micallef When in the first half it was 11 vs 11, Arsenal were by far the better team. Agreed? As for Torres being the star player, he seems to be a permanent crock and won't be of much use to the team this season, unfortunately. Ngog seems to be a far better option. Anyway good luck in the European - sorry Europa - Cup.
Joe Micallef
Aug 16th 2010, 20:02
Torres a crock? Thats why Barca, Man City and Chelsea have been constantly running after him ... Ngog was the weakest link in yesterday's performance and you call him a better option than Torres .
E Apap
Aug 17th 2010, 07:31
Can Mr Bernard Farrugia make us all happy by telling us which team you support??? Liverpool FC are still the most decorated English team there ever was, so whoever you support, they are still 2nd best to LFC.
You certainly have talent to judge a team on their 1st game even though they were winning with a man down against Arsenal. I bet you already know who will win the premiership!!!
m.agius
Aug 17th 2010, 08:49
dear mr Apap...
the ' decorating ' is a very old song now....im a scouser more than u....
....20 yrs now w/o challenging seriously for the league is disgraceful......u call that sumting brilliantly decorating ?????
davidvella
Aug 17th 2010, 10:21
@ Mr Farrugia, are you sure you watched the right match and not last years' replay?
maurice.arrigo
Aug 17th 2010, 11:13
i agree with Mr Agius although Liverpool do have the best History we cannot certainly keep on singing that same old song, all 'pool fans desperatley want the league , Sundays performance was all right with the crowd right behind the team, Anfields 12th man is back, this really helps, was dissapointed in Coles performance, although must say if that tackle would have been under the KOP he would have not got a RED....
Bernard Farrugia
Aug 17th 2010, 12:23
@ E. Apap
Your comment about "Liverpool FC are still the most decorated English team there ever was" reminds me of today's Greeks boasting about their past civilizations, or of Italian tifosi boasting about their two pre-World War II world cup wins. FYI I support the team who has won most of the cups on offer since the start of what is today known as the Premiership. Take my word for it, this year Liverpool will end up mid-table - at best.
Joseph Micallef
Aug 17th 2010, 17:55
The man utd syndrome speaking ...