England boss leaves Reds fuming with latest comments about training regime, writes James Pearce
England manager Roy Hodgson in action during a session at St George's Park, Burton Upon Trent
Liverpool FC fans know from bitter experience all about Roy Hodgson’s uncanny knack of putting his foot in his mouth.
Asked during the early stages of his ill-fated six-month spell in charge of the Reds whether there was anywhere quite like Anfield for an atmosphere, he replied “the San Siro and Old Trafford are excellent”.
Getting past Trabzonspor in the Europa League play-off round was once hailed as “a famous European night” and asked to respond to Alex Ferguson’s claims that Fernando Torres had been playacting to try to get John O’Shea sent off, his retort was “maybe Sir Alex had a better view of it than me”.
Liverpool’s most pitiful derby display for a generation was described as “our best performance of the season”. The list is endless.
Four years on, his disastrous
Anfield reign is thankfully an increasingly distant memory but his public utterances and archaic methods are still causing Liverpool problems.
Hodgson blundered on Sunday when he revealed details of his conversation with
Raheem Sterling prior to the Euro 2016 qualifier in Estonia.
By saying that the Reds teenager had complained of feeling tired and wanted to “sit it out” the England boss left Sterling open to a barrage of criticism.
If Hodgson had simply said he had taken the decision to rest him little would have been made of it. Instead, however unintentionally, he hung Sterling out to dry and Liverpool are left to lift his chin off the floor.
Hodgson has now followed that up by openly questioning Brendan Rodgers’ training methods. The Reds boss recently urged Hodgson to ensure his England contingent keep to a similar regime when they’re away on international duty to the one they’re used to at Melwood.
Rodgers was furious that
Daniel Sturridge suffered a thigh strain during a ‘high intensity’ England training session last month on what Liverpool would have classed as a second recovery day for the striker following a match.
“We feel it was an injury which could have been prevented,” said Rodgers, who has been without his frontline striker for the past seven matches.
Hodgson’s unrepentant response was to deny that England had either pushed Sturridge too hard or that the player was reluctant to take part in the session which saw him pull up lame. Now the 67-year-old has gone a step further, insisting there is little benefit to be gained from Rodgers’ carefully laid plans.
“I don’t think there is a lot of medical evidence to support the two day recovery,” Hodgson said.
Considering the sports science expertise Rodgers draws upon, the Liverpool manager’s reaction to that comment will be interesting.
Last season Hodgson riled the Reds when he admitted he had pressured Sturridge into playing against Germany, despite the player being hampered by a thigh problem, because he wanted to “test his resolve”. That club v country row has since intensified.
With Sturridge, Sterling,
Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson, Rickie Lambert,
Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan all at Anfield, Hodgson needs Liverpool’s support and co-operation but he has a funny way of showing it.
The England manager has vowed to call Rodgers this week to discuss concerns about Sterling being fatigued. It promises to be a lively conversation.
