Manager Roy Hodgson refuses to discuss Liverpool future
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Defeat is a 'bitter blow' - Hodgson
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson refused to answer questions about his future after their 3-1 defeat at Blackburn.
Hodgson has been under huge pressure with his side mid-table, having won only seven of their 20 league games since he took charge in July 2010.
Reports at the weekend also suggested Liverpool's owners have already started their search for a new manager.
"I am not prepared to talk about that because I am depressed enough with the performance and result," said Hodgson.
The 63-year-old answered only three questions in his post-match news conference, which lasted just over two minutes, and as soon as the subject of his position was raised, proceedings were brought to an abrupt halt.
"I have no comments to make and I have no intention to answer any questions on the subject," Hodgson said.
The former Fulham boss came in for heavy criticism after Liverpool lost at home to Wolves over Christmas, but their subsequent 2-1 win over Bolton appeared to have bought him some time.
However, Liverpool were seriously below-par against Blackburn, despite the presence of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Joe Cole, and now sit just four points above the relegation zone.
Martin Olsson's opener and a brace from Benjani proved enough to consign the Anfield outfit to ninth league defeat of the season.
And though Gerrard gave them some hope with an 81st-minute strike, the Reds' captain wasted a chance to give Rovers a nervous final six minutes by blazing a penalty over the bar.
As far as I am concerned it is a really bad day and there is not much more I can say
Roy Hodgson
When asked about his feelings after the defeat, Hodgson replied: "Dejection, bitter disappointment, frustration. I am very disappointed for the fans who gave us good support and saw the team concede the goals we did.
"I thought in the second half we did well to retrieve a seemingly hopeless situation and get back on track, and had Steven's penalty gone in who knows, we may have made the last five minutes more exciting.
"Unfortunately when you are Liverpool and you lose away to Blackburn there is nothing that can be said which will put a positive slant or make the situation look any brighter.
"As far as I am concerned, it is a really bad day and there is not much more I can say other than, to the fans, that anything they are feeling I can assure them the feeling is equally as bad and equally as depressed in the dressing room.
Kean relieved to focus on football
Blackburn boss Steve Kean, who marked his first home victory since taking over from the sacked Sam Allardyce in December, had sympathy for his opposite number.
"Roy is a great coach and manager, but we can only look after what we can do, which is winning games to try to move us up the league," said Kean, who was missing eight first-team players against Liverpool.
"I thought we were tremendous. We let them back into the game and it was a bit nervy when we gave them the penalty, but overall, on the balance of play, we were worthy of the three points.
"It was all about the togetherness; this is a tight group and we were down to the bare bones and that is how you show team spirit.
"I don't think it is anything about me, it is about the team and showing what we are as a club, and I am really proud of the lads."
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