Roy Hodgson's Liverpool future in doubt as press conference cancelled

Roy Hodgson's increasingly beleaguered situation at Liverpool was illustrated today when the club cancelled a pre-arranged press conference to preview Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie at Manchester United. The Liverpool manager is believed to be close to the sack following a miserable six months in charge and refused to answer questions on his future in the aftermath of Wednesday's 3-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers. Hodgson's future would, inevitably, have dominated today's press conference, which was expected to start at 1.30pm but was cancelled at 11.44am. The manager has not left the club, however, and an interview with Hodgson was scheduled to appear on Liverpool's in-house television channel and website instead. In a carefully-worded Q&A Hodgson previewed Sunday's third-round FA Cup match with Manchester United and explained that he understood supporters' grievances. "It's very important the fans realise that we understand they have high hopes, expectations and ambitions for the club and the team," he said. "We have high hopes, expectations and ambitions as well. "Every time we go on to the field we desperately want to see those dreams materialise and to produce the performances which bring you results. It's very painful when it's not happening and the fans make their views felt. We're all hurting in this situation." As reported by the Guardian today, Liverpool's Spanish players Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina are considering their futures at Anfield regardless of whether or not Hodgson stays in charge.