‘HEAD ON.. TO KOP IT’

AROUND 10,000 noisy Liverpool fans will help Roy Hodgson get his ‘football head’ on for one last time.

It has been an emotional week for the former England boss, 73, who has called time on a four-year spell as Crystal Palace boss.

Hodgson admitted the plaudits he has received in the last few days had left him humbled and distracted.

But, with Liverpool needing to pip Leicester to a Champions League spot, he knows that the Anfield atmosphere – with fans back for the first time in over a year – will soon jolt him back to reality.

“When that whistle blows, then all of this quite happily will be put aside and I will be able to get that football head on again,” he said.

“I have done that so many times, but with all that has gone on, I would be lying if I didn’t say it was harder than normal.

“But it will be done and, more importantly, the players will do it too, as they are the ones who have got to play the game.

“If we are not going to get beaten, they are the ones who are going to have to work unbelievably hard to keep Liverpool at bay.”

Palace failed to do that in December when Jurgen Klopp’s side romped to a 7-0 Selhurst Park rout.

But, whatever the score today, Hodgson will be remembered for taking Fulham to a Europa League final and also managed West Bromwich, Blackburn and, for six months, Liverpool.

Overseas stints saw him coach in Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, United Arab Emirates and Norway, before he landed the England job.

He will now take time out to be with his family.

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