Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson insists he will not quit the club despite his side’s poor start to the season.
The Reds lie 19th in the Premier League having won only one of their eight league games under Hodgson.
But the Merseysiders form in Europe offers some hope with the club currently top of Europa League Group K after they earned a 0-0 draw against Napoli on Thursday.
“Resignation has never once entered my thoughts and never will. I’m here for the long haul,” Hodgson said after the match.
“I came here believing I can help Liverpool rebuild. The players are behind everything we’re doing.”
Hodgson fielded a makeshift side at Napoli, with the Reds boss having left Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Raul Meireles and Lucas Leiva back home ahead of the Premier League game against Blackburn at Anfield on Sunday.
“We’re going through a very bad passage in the league,” admitted the 63-year-old.
“Things haven’t gone our way for a variety of reasons and that’s why we find ourselves down the bottom and desperate to get away.
“But the new owners have already done a little for the club, they’ve given us a lift.
“Even before the Everton game there was a new buoyancy and good feeling that we can get a lift.
“On Sunday we have an opportunity but Blackburn will have something to say about that, but we’ve shown against Napoli that we’re far from dead as a club and I know all the players who play on Sunday will be chomping at the bit to run and work and fight.
“I just hope the result will go our way to give us a bit of breathing space to move up the table instead of finding ourselves marooned at the bottom of the table.”
Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen, who joined Liverpool from Juventus in the summer, backed his manager.
“I don’t think you feel that he’s really under pressure,” said Poulsen. “He has a lot of experience, he’s a really good motivator and I think we can turn it around together. Hopefully we can start on Sunday against Blackburn.”
