LIVERPOOL spared manager Roy Hodgson another testing examination by the media by cancelling his pre-match press conference yesterday.

The 63-year-old was due to give his weekly briefing at the club’s Melwood training ground at 1.30pm ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup third round tie at Manchester United.

But it was cancelled and announced that he would give an interview which would be published on the club’s website and broadcast on their inhouse television channel.

It spared Hodgson having to answer what would have been a string of questions about his future, which has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks.

Hodgson’s position has come under increasing scrutiny after two defeats to Wolves and Blackburn in their last three Barclays Premier League matches.

After Wednesday’s embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Rovers Hodgson’s post-match press conference was cut short after just over two minutes.

The club are keen to focus on football matters and keep a lid on speculation about the manager’s future.

Liverpool’s owners, New England Sports Ventures, have reportedly been looking at their possible options for a managerial change for over a week.

They had intended to see out the season with Hodgson before reassessing the situation but recent results and the deteriorating relationship with fans and associated falling attendances have apparently prompted a rethink.

Neither principal owner John Henry nor chairman Tom Werner have offered any comment on the situation, although their failure to publicly back the manager has not helped Hodgson.

But, having survived the immediate aftermath of the embarrassment at Ewood Park, it seems the Reds boss will still be in charge for tomorrow’s FA Cup tie against their arch-rivals.

Should Liverpool lose it will leave them with just the Europa League to play for as they suffered a humiliating Carling Cup exit to League Two Northampton and are well off the pace for a top-four finish.

Hodgson hopes the FA Cup action will bring some welcome relief from the pressure which has built up on him and his players.

But even a win may not be enough to persuade the owners he remains the man to lead the club into a new era.

In many respects a trip to Old Trafford may, strangely, be the best thing for Hodgson as no-one gives his side a chance.

But Hodgson describing a potential win against a team who have also been short of their best this season as a ‘‘remarkable coup’’ highlights why he has alienated many supporters.

They have been highly critical of his perceived negative demeanour and his style of play.

However, Hodgson hopes a change of competition will bring a change of luck.

‘‘It gives us a chance in a really high-profile game to get back and put the bitter defeat against Blackburn behind us,’’ he said.

‘‘It was a poor, poor defensive performance to let in the goals we did and we’re all very disappointed about that.

‘‘This game against our fiercest rivals gives us the chance to show we are better than we were on Wednesday.

‘‘I don’t think it’s difficult to get the players focused on a team like Manchester United.

‘‘I’ll be preaching to the converted.

They don’t need to be told that.

‘‘We’ve got quite an experienced bunch of players here and they know as well as I do how important this game is, in particular for the supporters of the club.

‘‘The important thing for me to do is make that point clear but also to emphasise that to win it will require a lot of intelligent football.

‘‘We’re not going to do it throught heart alone."