Roy Hodgson Backs Pepe Reina

Roy Hodgson has given goalkeeper Pepe Reina his full support after his own goal saw Liverpool drop two points in their opening match against Arsenal.

Liverpool were heading for a 1-0 victory over Arsenal, after a second half goal from David Ngog gave then the lead, until Reina spilled a rebound into his own net to see the London side pull level.

And while the mistake did cost Liverpool an opening win Hodgson refused to blame Reiner before going on to say that the goalkeeper had his full backing.

Speaking on the club's official website after the match Roy Hodgson said: "He took it hard because he is a very serious professional who really believes in himself and the team.

"He will be the first one not to try and apportion blame to other people, so of course he's taken it hard.

"But I thought he played well considering he didn't have an awful lot to do - and what he did have to do came very spasmodically. His concentration was good, his kicking was excellent.

"He's had a shoulder injury and came back quicker than we thought he would, so there are an enormous number of positives. The one negative, unfortunately, was he let in a goal which in normal circumstances he would have kept out."

Liverpool went down to ten men Joe Cole was sent off early in the opening half for a lunge on Laurent Koscielny and the Reds had to play the rest of the ninety minutes at a disadvantage.

The opening half was dominated by Arsenal as they had much of the possession but they were unable to break down Liverpool's back four despite threatening.

Ngog's goal came in the forty sixth minute when Arsenal gave away possession on the edge of the box, a mistake that Javier Mascherano jumped on as he fed in Ngog, who once again found the back of the net.

Steven Gerrard almost made it 2-0 when his free kick forced a great save from Almunia while Walcott and Vermaelen came close at the other end.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw