Along with Paul Konchesky, Poulsen is widely viewed as the embodiment of Roy Hodgson's ill-fated stint at Anfield. Lured to Merseyside from Italy, where he performed creditably for Juventus, Poulsen has never won over the faithful on the Kop and, once Dalglish stepped in, it appeared the Dane's days were numbered. However, Poulsen sought out the Scot for a chat in the first few days after the Liverpool legend took charge. And he was satisfied with the conclusion his new boss reached. "After the new manager came in I had a short meeting with him," revealed Poulsen. "I asked whether I was staying. "He said he wanted to use all the players and if I performed in training he would use me. "He has showed he is ready to use all the players, so if I do what he asks, hopefully I will play more often." That Poulsen has only started three of the seven games Dalglish has been at the helm does not bode particularly well for a long relationship between the pair. He has lasted longer than Konchesky, though, given the defender has been shipped off to Nottingham Forest on loan. And Poulsen cannot fail to be impressed by Dalglish's impact at Liverpool. "I didn't know what to expect," he admitted. "It was a fresh start for everybody. "But the support the manager gets is unbelievable. It is amazing to see how the fans support him and that, in turn, has taken a bit of pressure off the team." Maybe not off Poulsen, though, even if he accepts intense criticism comes with the territory as a high-profile player at one of Europe's leading - and underperforming - clubs. "Liverpool has such a big history," said the Denmark skipper. "They really want to win something and be where they deserve to be - the top of the league. "At a club like that it is normal that even if you draw a game it feels like a defeat. "You have to live with the criticism. Hopefully it will be a better time for me but I can live it. It is part of being a professional footballer. "Liverpool has such a big history and I hope, given some time, they can come back to the top." After settling in his city-centre accommodation, Poulsen could not escape the sense Hodgson was on borrowed time from the very early days of the campaign. Despite his vast experience, the 30-year-old did not seem to comprehend the sheer scale of Liverpool, or the global interest in what went on at the club. Frustration ultimately turned to anger and ended up costing Hodgson his job, although Poulsen still feels a huge amount of sympathy for the former Fulham chief. "Football tends to be black and white," observed Poulsen. "I still think Roy Hodgson did a good job. He worked really hard to try to make everything right for the club but there were so many things going on. "There were new owners, new players, a new system. And we made a bad start. "We needed time. But football is about getting results. We have just won four games on the trot and from that the confidence and performances grow."
