Crystal Palace's Roy Hodgson defies doubt, eyes upsets despite tough fixture run

Crystal Palace's Roy Hodgson refuses to see losing to Liverpool as inevitable despite his side's poor form continuing with a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth three days before the Reds' trip to Selhurst Park

The Cherries deserved Wednesday's win, but were viewed by many – including Hodgson – to be the likeliest opponent against which Palace could pick up points in a difficult run which, after Liverpool, will see his side face Manchester City and Brighton before Christmas, with a trip to Stamford Bridge set for Boxing Day.

Palace have won just once at home this season, more than three months ago against Wolves, but have also enjoyed their share of upsets in recent years including a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in late September.

After being questioned about the upcoming run by a reporter on the live broadcast, Hodgson told a press conference: "Now you've got to try to get 19 points from 19 games by beating Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton and Chelsea, and she was saying or suggesting that after tonight it was not going to happen.

"In actual fact I understand that. In her situation, maybe I might have been saying the same thing myself, but we haven't lost them yet. Let's wait and see.

"Yes, four very tough games. Would it have been nice to have won tonight and get to 19 points? Yes it would. But we didn't do it. We didn't play well enough."

Palace have suffered from a string of injuries this season, with both Eberechi Eze and Cheick Doucoure ruled out for a second straight contest on Wednesday night after they were forced off against Luton.

Full-back Tyrick Mitchell, who was forced off just before the half-hour mark, is the latest Eagle who could find himself out of action.

While Hodgson did not know Mitchell's full prognosis, he said: "It's an unfortunate injury. He was in good form, playing well, we'd be very upset to lose him.

"It's a muscle strain, and my relationship with muscle strains at Crystal Palace is not a good relationship."

Hodgson readily agreed his squad needs reinforcing in the January transfer window, and pointed to Wednesday's opponents as an example of a club able to spend "wisely" within their constraints.

While the Palace boss was again left fielding answers about squad depth, Andoni Iraola admitted he was in the enviable position of having a number of in-form players to choose from, including forward Kieffer Moore who came on as an 88th-minute substitute and denied the Eagles any hope of a draw when he nodded past Sam Johnstone in stoppage time.

The Bournemouth boss, whose side next face Manchester United at Old Trafford, said: "I'm really happy when this happens because for sure there are players, for me it's difficult not to give time (to) because they are performing so well.

"Maybe it's not fair but they are difficult decisions and whenever a player like Kieff comes and plays just the minutes he played and scores, it is very good also for the group."