Liverpool (7/1 Top 4 Finish) boss Roy Hodgson watched his side secure only their second Premier League win of the season against Blackburn and then was told striker Dirk Kuyt should return within four weeks, as he does not require surgery on his injured ankle.
The Reds have endured a difficult campaign and the pressure has mounted on Hodgson after they recently dropped into the Premier League’s relegation zone.
However, second half goals from Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Fernando Torres (14/1 Premiership Top Scorer) – his first since August – ensured Jamie Carragher’s unfortunate own goal sandwiched in between did not prevent them from dropping more points.
Liverpool remain in the Premier League’s drop zone on goal difference, but they will have been boosted to finally get a much-needed win under their belts.
A relieved Hodgson felt his players deserved the win on the balance of play in which they dominated the opening 70 minutes.
He said: “I thought the passing and movement was as good, if not better than it’s been but we were more incisive. We got in more crosses, got more bodies into the box for crosses, we had an enormous number of corner kicks and looked dangerous from those corner kicks, which is nice to see.”
The former Blackburn boss will also have been heartened by the news Dutch hitman Kuyt could be back in action for the Reds within a month.
It was feared that the 30-year-old would be missing for up to five months with an ankle injury he picked up on international duty in the Netherlands’ Euro 2012 qualifier against Sweden a fortnight ago. However, he is hoping to be back in time for the busy schedule of games in December.
Kuyt said: “I had a second scan and the doctor has now told me that they do not need to operate on my ankle. That is such a relief.
“The doctor says I could be back in the Liverpool team within one month.”
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Dirk Kuyt has given his backing to Fernando Torres to come good after a disappointing start so far to the season but insists that the Liverpool striker plays a vital role for the team, even when he is not finding the back of the net.
Liverpool (6/4 – 2010-11 Top Four Finish) have said that Dirk Kuyt will be sidelined for four weeks, after suffering a shoulder injury whilst on international duty.
Dirk Kuyt says he is focused on winning the World Cup with Holland (4/9 to beat Slovakia) and will sort out his future with Liverpool once the tournament is over.