Babel: Roy Hodgson better than Rafa

RYAN BABEL eased some of the pressure on Roy Hodgson by insisting: He's a far better boss than the last one.

The Dutchman is adamant life is a lot more enjoyable under new Liverpool chief Hodgson than it was when Rafa Benitez was in charge.
Babel was one of the few first-team regulars who got a game in the mind-numbing 0-0 draw against Utrecht on Wednesday.
That probably means he will not start against Fulham tomorrow.
But the frontman is happy to stay and fight for his place, rather than look for a move in the January transfer window.
Babel, 24 on Sunday, is used to constant speculation over whether he will quit Anfield after failing to make the expected impact in the 3½ years since his £11.5million move from Ajax.
He said: "It doesn't annoy me that I always get asked about my future. It is not up to me whether I see my future here, it is up to Liverpool.
"This is my fourth season, so it is up to them what they do. I have one more year on my contract at the end of the season and I would like to stay.
"It has been frustrating here as a player but it has not changed my loyalty to the club.
"It is more about the manager. The club is fantastic but if a manager does not like you, it is between you and him.
"The club is amazing and there are still a lot of fans who believe in me, so that gives me a goal.
"And things are different under Roy Hodgson. He does things differently. Maybe that suits me better.
"When he arrived, he was closer with the team - talking to players.
"Maybe that gives the players a boost to respond better.
"He is more involved day to day with the players.
"Under Rafa, the assistant managers took a lot of responsibility but that is different now. "And it helps that I am playing in a more central role.
"That position suits me a bit better because you can use most of your energy up front. On the wing, you have to defend a bit more - and maybe that suits me less.
"The striker role, together with someone else, is pretty good for me. It is how I made my name.
"Maybe the fans have been judging me on a position that is not my best.
"I hope this country has not seen the best of me yet.
"The maximum games I have played in a row is four and it is difficult for every player to find that consistency if you are not playing every week."
Babel is keen to 'ride tandem' with Fernando Torres after being denied the chance to form a strike partnership with him when Hodgson controversially backtracked on his decision to play the Spaniard against Utrecht.
Babel added: "I only found out Fernando wasn't playing an hour before kick-off.
"We were working together before the game.
"I've never played up front with Fernando and I was looking forward to it. Hopefully, it will happen soon."