Liverpool advanced to the Carling Cup quarter-finals in midweek with a 2-1 victory at Stoke City. Luis Suarez scored twice and managed to take some focus away from his racism row with Patrice Evra last week.
The Reds will return to Premier League action this weekend, and Kenny Dalglish will face off against West Bromwich Albion manager Roy Hodgson, the man he replaced in the Anfield hot seat.
Hodgson was handed the Liverpool managerial job in the summer of 2010, after guiding Fulham to the UEFA Europa League Final and a 12th place finish in the Premier League.
Hodgson struggled at Anfield, and his reign came to an inglorious end in early 2011. Hodgson was forced out after 31 games in charge, giving him the dubious recognition of having had the shortest managerial reign in the club’s history.
Anfield legend Dalglish stepped into the managerial role after Hodgson’s departure, and led the club to improved results on the field.
When asked about the teams improved performance, veteran defender Jamie Carragher said “He’s brought the club together as one. The players and the supporters are all together. It wasn’t like that at the start of the season.”
While these comments were not likely a designed attack by Carragher, it must have hurt Hodgson’s professional pride to have a player so openly say how things were much better without him in charge.
The wily veteran Hodgson did not make negative comments in public about his time at Liverpool, instead choosing to quickly return to management with West Bromwich Albion.
Hodgson performed a resurrection job himself at the end of last season, taking over a Baggies team that had lost 13 of their previous 18 matches. Hodgson galvanized West Brom and led them to five wins and five draws in their last 12 games. The upturn in form allowed West Brom to finish 11th in the Premier League, their highest finish in almost 30 years.
Baggies boss Hodgson also gained a measure of revenge on Liverpool with a 2-1 victory over the Reds in April, a result that must have caused some minor embarrassment for Dalglish.
Dalglish will be looking to avenge that defeat this weekend, as a win for Liverpool would continue their challenge to finish in the top four. A win for West Brom would see the Baggies pull to within just one point of the Reds.
The Liverpool owners will also be keen for a victory, as after a change in management and heavy investment they will expect to see their team more than one point above a West Brom club managed by the man they forced out.
While it is likely neither Dalglish or Hodgson will draw attention to this angle in the prematch buildup, you can bet a lot of professional pride will be at stake at the Hawthorns on Saturday.
The game will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel at 12:30pm (Eastern Time).
Hodgson was handed the Liverpool managerial job in the summer of 2010, after guiding Fulham to the UEFA Europa League Final and a 12th place finish in the Premier League.
Hodgson struggled at Anfield, and his reign came to an inglorious end in early 2011. Hodgson was forced out after 31 games in charge, giving him the dubious recognition of having had the shortest managerial reign in the club’s history.
Anfield legend Dalglish stepped into the managerial role after Hodgson’s departure, and led the club to improved results on the field.
When asked about the teams improved performance, veteran defender Jamie Carragher said “He’s brought the club together as one. The players and the supporters are all together. It wasn’t like that at the start of the season.”
While these comments were not likely a designed attack by Carragher, it must have hurt Hodgson’s professional pride to have a player so openly say how things were much better without him in charge.
The wily veteran Hodgson did not make negative comments in public about his time at Liverpool, instead choosing to quickly return to management with West Bromwich Albion.
Hodgson performed a resurrection job himself at the end of last season, taking over a Baggies team that had lost 13 of their previous 18 matches. Hodgson galvanized West Brom and led them to five wins and five draws in their last 12 games. The upturn in form allowed West Brom to finish 11th in the Premier League, their highest finish in almost 30 years.
Baggies boss Hodgson also gained a measure of revenge on Liverpool with a 2-1 victory over the Reds in April, a result that must have caused some minor embarrassment for Dalglish.
Dalglish will be looking to avenge that defeat this weekend, as a win for Liverpool would continue their challenge to finish in the top four. A win for West Brom would see the Baggies pull to within just one point of the Reds.
The Liverpool owners will also be keen for a victory, as after a change in management and heavy investment they will expect to see their team more than one point above a West Brom club managed by the man they forced out.
While it is likely neither Dalglish or Hodgson will draw attention to this angle in the prematch buildup, you can bet a lot of professional pride will be at stake at the Hawthorns on Saturday.
The game will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel at 12:30pm (Eastern Time).
