Andy Gray

In each Liverpool game there is a lot at stake at present. The fans will be up for their FA Cup tie with Manchester United but Premier League results are ultimately what will count for Roy Hodgson this season.

Joe Cole's late winner against Bolton was important for the Reds and could have given them renewed confidence. Nevertheless, the manager is under immense pressure despite only being four months into the job.

There's a lot more wrong with Liverpool than what is happening on the pitch. By the end of Rafael Benitez's reign they were practically a Spanish-speaking club with plenty of Spaniards in influential positions which made communication difficult.

Roy Hodgson's main problem is that he was not appointed by the current owners of the club. It's the same problem that Mark Hughes faced at Manchester City and Sam Allardyce at Blackburn. As witnessed with those two, it can prove fatal.

The American owners would probably prefer to install their own manager. They will want their man in charge and they won't care too much about the club's admirable tradition of not sacking managers too hastily.

It's well documented that Premier League owners can be quick to pull the trigger on managers these days but clubs need continuity, especially one with such proud heritage as Liverpool.

The owners should back the manager and let the team play their way out of trouble. Whichever way you look at it, Roy Hodgson needs his team to start winning soon.

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