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Aldridge: Hodgson facing an uphill battle By Kevin Palmer (Archive) October 26, 2010 * Comment * Email * Print Circumstance has not been a helpful ally to Roy Hodgson in his first couple of months as manager of Liverpool, yet Anfield legend John Aldridge believes his future will come under relentless scrutiny over the next couple of months. John Aldridge celebrates after scoring in the 1989 FA Cup semi-final against Forest GettyImages John Aldridge celebrates after scoring in the 1989 FA Cup semi-final against Forest With the explosive takeover battle at Anfield - a harrowing nightmare that is quickly being banished to the history books by Liverpool fans - all associated with the club can focus their attention on faltering players once again. That may be an ideal scenario for Hodgson given his side's precarious position among the relegation battlers. Liverpool may only have played eight games prior to the visit or Blackburn to Merseyside last weekend, yet Aldridge believes the boss who took on the daunting task of succeeding Rafael Benitez last summer is already close to reaching the point of no return. Defeat against Blackburn last weekend may well have propelled John W Henry and his recently installed Liverpool boardroom team to trigger the search for their own manager, but a 2-1 victory against Sam Allardyce's battlers gave Hodgson some much needed breathing space as he attempts to revive a side that has been lacking in confidence all season. Aldridge was a firm supporter of Hodgson's appointment last summer, but he expects the new Anfield hierarchy to keep all options open in the coming weeks. "It sounds crazy to say a manager is under pressure after just eight games in charge, but that was certainly the position Hodgson found himself in on Sunday," he said. "The new owners have not put