Last night’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City underlined just how far Liverpool have fallen and new manager Roy Hodgson now knows the size of the task he has taken on.

Finishing seventh in the Premier League last year was viewed by many as an anomaly, a blip that signalled the end of Rafa Benitez’s reign. The truth is, despite the presence of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, that is as good as this Liverpool team is.

Much of the blame for Liverpool’s decline will be laid at the door of Hicks and Gillett, the club’s American owners. Boardroom unrest, mounting debt, internal squabbling…it all affects the players on the pitch, it is said.

Well, sorry, I don’t buy that. Not getting paid, like happened at Portsmouth, will affect a player. Power struggles between Americans at board meetings simply won’t. So no, I do not accept that boardroom turmoil affects what happens on the pitch. It will affect the ability of the manager to add to and strengthen his squad but that’s it.

In Liverpool’s case, I really don’t think that has happened yet anyway. Certainly Benitez had enough money to spend to attract the likes of Torres, Mascherano and Aquilani. Hodgson, on the other hand, IS likely to find his hands tied in the transfer market, loosely at least. Fortunately for Liverpool, he’s well used to that.

No, Liverpool’s fall from the (near) top can be laid squarely at the door of Rafa Benitez and a squad that is well below the quality required to challenge for or in Europe. Benitez is gone now so there is very little point talking about what he did at the club, except to say his signings, like many managers at Anfield before him, simply aren’t good enough.

Gerrard, Torres and Mascherano aside, there is not one player at Liverpool that last season’s top three of Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal would want in their squads. Carragher is usually mentioned at this point – but I don’t believe Carragher would be half the player he is at any other club. He loves Liverpool, that’s why he performs as he does for them.

Mascherano, it seems, will soon be gone, further weakening the team. Torres is short of fitness and maybe desire. Gerrard is suffering from the lack of quality around him.

Let’s be honest, the overall performance in last night’s game was as bad, if not worse, as any from last season. Hodgson’s decision to play 4-4-2 did not help and he will have to review how he gets the best out of this team and Gerrard and Torres in particular. Hodgson, basically, needs time.

Not only to assess what he has, which is very little, but also to find the formula for success with it. Given time, I’m confident he will do it. I’m NOT confident he will get the time. And that will be down to the boardroom and what happens there. New owners might signal a new manager, while the continued involvement of Hicks and Gillett will only undermine Hodgson in terms of available money.

These are dark days for Liverpool and their supporters and a reassessment of expectation is required. Forget the top four and Champions League football. It’s not possible with this team. My probably unwelcome advice to the supporters is to accept that for now, Europa League football is the best they can expect while the manager rebuilds the club, the team and the football played from the bottom up.

Liverpool fans will have heard that before though. Benitez had a five year plan and it didn’t work. Hodgson needs a similar amount of time. Patience, I imagine, is in short supply in the Kop. Nevertheless, it’s what is required, because finishing higher than seventh year looks to be beyond them at the moment.

It’s the players that have to step up now. I don’t believe they can or want to, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres aside. Am I being too critical? Let me know in the comments!

Spanish star striker Fernando Torres has pledged his (immediate) future to Liverpool, claiming new manager Roy Hodgson’s plans are the main reason for doing so. Liverpool fans, understandably, are delighted. But what are Hodgson’s oh-so-convincing plans?

Liverpool are a team in decline, whether the supporters want to hear it or not. The ownership issue isn’t likely to go away any time soon and until it does there’s no real way the club can move forward. On the training ground and on the pitch Hodgson can work his magic but he will always be hampered by what happens upstairs.

Clearly he will build his team around the epic duo of Torres and Stephen Gerrard, now likely to see his career out at Anfield, and will attempt to bring the best out of some of the club’s underperformers as he is so good at doing. The addition of Joe Cole was an unexpected boon, helping the loss of Benayoun to Chelsea, and once Hodgson has got rid of the increasingly disruptive Mascherano there’ll be more scope for moulding a team in his own image.

This is a job that requires time, however, and it seems to me to be unlikely that Torres would be prepared to wait. Yet he has said he will, for another season at least. Has Hodgson promised something then? Like Champions League qualification THIS season? Quite a claim to make, given the current state of the club.

More likely it’s one of those “stay a season, if we don’t qualify I’ll let you go” deals. Because Roy Hodgson is no fool and he must know that rebuilding Liverpool is a task that will require seasons, not season. It’s possible he is shrewd enough to drag the team to fourth spot, his success with Fulham suggests he can, but it is far, far from a given and competition is fierce in the Premier League now.

Getting back to Gerrard, one wonders why he is still at Liverpool. He hit his peak two seasons ago and his standards have steadily dropped since. Don’t get me wrong, he is still a fantastic player and would be a boost for any squad, here in England or in Europe. Nevertheless, his best is behind him, bar an Indian summer, and he must soon regret not moving on from Anfield in pursuit of more success than he has enjoyed so far. We must admire his devotion to the club he supports, but we must also question his desire to stretch himself.

Too late now? Probably, in all honesty. “One more season” he’s been telling himself for at least five years and he has again. Partnered with a fit Torres, Liverpool will be a force – just not one on a par with Chelsea, Manchester United or Manchester City (but maybe Arsenal). Fail again and Torres will likely depart. What does Gerrard do then? Resign himself to being a hometown hero or attempt to seek that Indian summer abroad? We’ll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, we must see if Hodgson’s magic can galvanise a squad deep in depression enough to finish fourth and potentially retain their two stars. Succeed and the only way is up for Liverpool. Fail and one fears for the future even more.

The odds are against it – but they were against Fulham ever appearing in a European final too…

If, as is widely expected, the Football Association toss several more million pounds Fabio Capello’s way along with his P45 and wish him well, they will then be faced with the daunting prospect of appointing his successor from a very short shortlist of possibilities.

That list gets ever shorter as I expect the FA to return to English managers following the relative failures of the Italian and Sven Goran-Eriksson. They may not have that luxury should the English contenders rule themselves out, so we’d better look at a few of the other options as well.

On with the Englishmen first though.

Roy Hodgson: The Fulham manager’s stock is high right now following his success with the London club in European competition. He’s also a wanted man, with Liverpool wanting him to put them back on the right track. He has international experience with the United Arab Emirates, Finland and Switzerland, as well as working in Scandinavia and Italy at club level. In terms of knowledge and ability there are few to match Hodgson and he’d be a popular choice for the supporters as well. Where my doubts lie are in the strength of his personality – does he have the presence to command and, more importantly, motivate a team of England’s finest players? I just don’t know – but we’ll never know unless he’s given the chance.

Harry Redknapp: Harry seems to be the Marmite of football managers, you either love him or hate him. I love him (but I HATE Marmite). What he has done at club level with small clubs like Bournemouth, West Ham United and Portsmouth has been nothing short of genius and he has taken that to a bigger club in Tottenham and continued in the same fashion. As a motivator he is second to none, his ability to get the very best out of his players – no matter their level of ability – is proven. His career has progressed in such a way that if it doesn’t culminate in managing his country it will be a surprise. The FA, however, will have serious concerns about his baggage, not least the impending court case over alleged tax evasion. But what’s that got to do with football, I ask?

Stuart Pearce: Stuart, for so long a roaring Lion for England on the field, has become rather quieter off it, especially since he joined the international set up. The FA are clearly grooming him for the future and following his success with the Under 21s he joined Fabio Capello’s backroom team to learn from the master – though what he will have learned is a huge question mark now. Perhaps he learned more what NOT to do? Pearce is a student of the game and has a passion for England few can match. That combination could work – but is it too soon? Questions, you see, always questions.

Sam Allardyce: If Roy Hodgson’s stock has risen rapidly, Big Sam’s has dropped at roughly the same speed. His reputation, built at Bolton, actually had him line for the England job at one point but since leaving Bolton he’s struggled to make the same impact at Blackburn. They haven’t done badly – but they haven’t done brilliantly either, and Sam is now out of the frame. Yet he is a players’ manager, able, like Redknapp, to coax performances from average players. A useful skill for an England manager to have… The FA will only turn to Allardyce now if they have exhausted all other options, however.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that the FA could look below the Premier League at English managers and coaches in the Championship. It’s unlikely, but not impossible. Who do we have down there that might be in with a shout then?

Well, there’s Steve Coppell at Bristol City for one. The former England international has all the credentials, is well respected and a good coach. There must be a question mark over his ability to handle the pressure of the big job though – he lasted just 33 days at Manchester City due to it. Nevertheless, his success with Reading in particular must count to his credit.

There are plenty of other good, if not great, English managers in the Premiership. But you just can’t see the FA going for them, likely through fear of both the unknown – they haven’t done it at the top level yet – and fear of a fans backlash. Despite everything, England fans will demand a big enough name. The logic is flawed, of course, but it’s human nature.

How, though, are English manager ever going to get that top level experience when Premiership clubs insist on appointing big name foreigners? Therein lies the problem. The topic was discussed on Radio 5Live last night and it was pointed out that the best sides at this year’s World Cup are managed by men of the same nationality – and that the clubs in those countries are managed by the same for the most part. Coincidence?

So what of the foreign options left open to the FA?

Arsene Wenger: Hugely respected at the FA and clearly a fantastic manager but an outside bet anyway, simply due to the fact Wenger is unlikely to want to manage England. He would no doubt be flattered to be considered, but would turn it down with grace. Whether or not he could get the best out of England’s players without the day to day contact he enjoys at Arsenal is a worry as well.

Martin O’Neill: Here we have a real man-manager who enjoys working with English players and nurturing them at Aston Villa. On paper he is the ideal candidate and he’d jump at the chance of the England job. He isn’t one for staying too long at a club so it gets stale too and I get the sense that might not be too far off with Villa. Another season or two? He’s definitely in with a shout, though apparently he didn’t impress in his last interview with the FA when they looked for a replacement for Eriksson. They’ll take another look though.

David Moyes: Another in with a shout due to his success with Everton on a shoe string. He can clearly motivate his men, his tactical ability is strong and he is a willing learner. Importantly, he is also good with the press. Whether he can handle the pressures of the England job is a debate to have but there’s nothing yet to suggest he couldn’t.

Would the FA consider a previous England manager? It is doubtful, but Steve McLaren has proved what a good manager he can be with FC Twente and one newspaper even touted Eriksson as an option! I’ll toss another name into the ring too – Glenn Hoddle. He had England playing the best football I have seen them play. It was a shame he was and still maybe a complete loon, but he suits international management in my mind.

If I had to pick one right now to replace Capello, however, I wouldn’t hesitate in choosing Harry Redknapp. England don’t need a tactical genius, they need a man who can motivate, handle the press and with enough brains to send his team out knowing the jobs they have to do. For me, Redknapp is it and right now he’s at the top of his game.

Where would your vote go?

Destined for the Anfield hotseat whether he likes it or not?

Now that Rafa Benitez has fled for pastures much greener (likely to be European champions Inter Milan), Liverpool are left with the unenviable task of finding a manager to restore their former glory.

The problem they have, however, is that they are no longer such an attractive proposition to many managers, crippled as they are by debt and with growing unrest in the dressing room following Benitez’s departure.

Speculation already surrounds the future of Stephen Gerrard, wanted by Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, Fernando Torres, a reported target for Chelsea and Manchester City, Yossi Benayoun has issued a (fanciful) come and get me plea to Chelsea and Argentinian mercenary Javier Mascherano also looks set to leave to the highest bidder.

None of this is going to be particularly appealing to any prospective manager looking to further his career and add the famous Liverpool name to his CV.

The real problem though is the £351 million of debt the club’s American owners have managed to accrue. Rebuilding a team capable of winning the Premier League – surely the minimum the supporters expect still – with no funds will be impossible. Persuading the likes of Torres and Gerrard to stay will be only slightly more possible.

To do that Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow and former boss and Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish – the men charged with finding a replacement – must attract a big name capable of convincing the big name players that he is the man to put the club back in contention for honours.

The lack of Champions League football next season is also a negative for players and possible managers as well. In short, the future for Liverpool looks bleak.

Let’s leave the playing staff to one side, however, and look at the names being touted around for the now hotter than ever Anfield hotseat.

First of all there is Kenny Dalglish himself. He’s already managed the club to success and is, of course, popular with the supporters. He has received backing from former players Jamie Redknapp and Bruce Grobbelaar. It would be a step backwards and I’m not sure Dalglish would be that interested. He is, presumably, being very well paid to ‘consult’ on Benitez’s replacement so taking the job himself might not be what he wants.

Outside pressure may convince him to take up the position, at least on a temporary basis until a big name manager becomes available.

One such big name is new Turkey boss Guus Hiddink. A proven manager with a long list of successes, Hiddink may have the presence to convince Liverpool’s big name players to give it another season and could have the skills to mould the current side into a more successful unit. His agent has already said the move is unlikely though and Hiddink has a history of remaining loyal to his contracts.

Martin O’Neill is a far more likely candidate. He could operate within the tight budgets that will be inflicted on the new manager, he is good with the players and he must now be looking to make a step up from Aston Villa. The only thing lacking from his CV is a big name club (unless you include Celtic – and I don’t). Liverpool would suit him perfectly.

Villa owner Randy Lerner will step in and try to convince O’Neill to stay should Liverpool make an approach and the good working relationship they have – compared to the mess that is the Anfield ownership – may swing the balance in the Birmingham club’s favour.

There is no doubt that O’Neill would seriously consider it but would ask for certain assurances. It would be up to Dalglish and Purslow to give them – if they can.

Fulham’s success in the Europa League last season has pushed Roy Hodgson’s name to the forefront of many club’s thoughts, Liverpool included. Like O’Neill, Hodgson would see Liverpool as a step up and an opportunity to further his career. The supporters may not be as happy with his appointment as one might imagine, however. Despite his glowing record with Inter Milan and Fulham and his wealth of managerial knowledge there remains a niggling doubt from the man in the street.

Fulham chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed would fight tooth and nail to keep his man, of course, but the lure of Anfield may be enough. Hodgson is unlikely to be as fazed by the club’s financial mess as O’Neill would be.

Harry Redknapp is another name that has been mentioned. This, though, is very unlikely. The Tottenham manager has Champions League football to look forward to next season, he is in the process of building a side capable of challenging for an even higher position in the Premier League than last season’s fourth place and he seems more settled than he has in a long time.

Add in the fact Harry has never managed up North and is a London boy at heart and there seems no reason why he would move to Liverpool. Except one – Redknapp covets the England job and he may feel that managing Liverpool would bring him closer to getting it once Capello has moved on. That would be one hell of a risk to take though.

Other names being linked include Bayern Munich’s Louis van Gaal, Croatia’s Slaven Bilic, Galatasary’s Frank Rijkaard and former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes. All of these would be put off by the club’s financial and ownership worries, however.

Liverpool have a difficult job convincing any prospective manager that these issues are just temporary and it seems likely that before they can attract the man they want then a new owner and more stability will have to be found at boardroom level. That means the smart money must go on Dalglish to take charge in the short term until those problems are resolved.

Right now that seems the only viable option and the club’s supporters must resign themselves to another unsuccessful season next year – and maybe for more seasons after that – and the loss of some of their favourite players too.

Fulham’s tiring nine month, 18 game European campaign has seen them qualify for the Europa League final, beating along the way the likes of Wolfsburg, current holders Shakhtar Donetsk, CSKA Sofia and, lest we forget, Italian giants Juventus and Roma. Sporting Fare (and every other media organisation and commentator) puts this remarkable achievement down to one man – Roy Hodgson. And rightly so.

What is it about this nice, genial and intelligent Englishman that has rejuvenated, galvanised and propelled a small club like Fulham from relegation fodder at home to potential European trophy winners?

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