Don't count on it.
Hodgson is already making excuses. He's bottling it already!
The celebrations were just getting into full swing on Merseyside when Roy Hodgson turned party pooper on Liverpool.
He has warned the cock-ahoop Kopites they can't bank on Fulham, buoyed by their first Premier League away win of the season, doing them a massive favour by beating Manchester United next week.
Liverpool - and the rest of the footballing world - will be watching events at Craven Cottage on Saturday to see how Sir Alex Ferguson's champions respond to their tonking by the Reds.
Will they stumble where Arsenal have already been beaten this season and Chelsea held to a draw and breathe a bit more life into the title race?
Hodgson believes he already knows the answer and isn't giving his side much hope of getting anything against United, who walloped Fulham 4-0 in the FA Cup at Craven Cottage just nine days ago.
"Listen, we have to work very hard to win our games," said the Fulham boss. "I can't stand here and say at the moment that our team is on a par with Manchester United because everyone knows it isn't, but we'll give it our best shot.
"We'll work very hard, but the Liverpools and the Chelseas who are chasing Manchester United can't really expect that much of Fulham and think we'll beat Manchester United for them.
"Those teams chasing must be realistic. The lead is still four points and Manchester United have a game in hand, which could stretch the lead to seven points, and seven points is a massive gap. I think everyone will realise the chance is slim."Whatever happens on Saturday, Fulham skipper Danny Murphy feels he has already helped Liverpool's title hopes. Murphy is something of a lucky charm for the Reds, being the only player ever to score three Premiership winners at Old Trafford, so his old Liverpool pals were delighted to bump into him at the Worsley Marriott Hotel on Friday.
"I got to see Stevie and Carra because we stayed in the same hotel," he said. "It was really nice to see them and they're great pals of mine. Maybe I brought them a bit of luck, who knows?
"The result Liverpool got at Old Trafford was fantastic. I'd noticed they had gone 3-1 up and I was made up for the boys when it finished 4-1 because they've had quite a lot of stick recently."
Fulham also finally enjoyed some good fortune on the road as they won their first Premier League away game since the final day of last season.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/03/16/bolton-1-3-fulham-cottagers-hit-stride-in-time-for-manchester-united-test-115875-21201825/