After conceding that Liverpool had produced the worst performance of his six sometimes tortured months as manager, Roy Hodgson argued that he had yet to see "the famous Anfield support".

Sections of the stadium called for Hodgson's dismissal after last night's 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers that left the club three points off a relegation place. There were chants for Kenny Dalglish, who had put himself up as a candidate to replace Rafael Benítez in the summer, and ironic ones of "Hodgson for England".

"Ever since I came here the famous Anfield support hasn't really been there," Hodgson said after a game that ensured Liverpool's worst start to the season since they were relegated in 1953-54.

"There was the problem with the former owners [Tom Hicks and George Gillett] and there was the fact that Kenny was so popular, but the job went to me. I have had to live with that. I have to hope the fans will become supporters because we need support. We are not deliberately losing games. You have seen these players before but they are not playing like they have in the past, so I think it is time for the fans to really help as well.

"It is not for lack of trying that we are not winning matches. Maybe we are lacking quality and confidence, but the negativity doesn't help. The players are not getting on the ball."

Hodgson thought this defeat was Liverpool's worst of the season, worse than the humiliations at the hands of Northampton and Blackpool that had been previous nadirs of his brief reign. "We were hoping for a great performance where we came flying around the pitch and we did the exact opposite," he said. "It was as bad a team performance as we have given. We just didn't have the intensity or tempo in our game to deserve more than we got.

"It was a sad way to end 2010 and a sad way to play the first game for a few weeks in front of our own supporters, when we were anxious to show them we could climb the table."

The chants for Dalglish, who put himself forward to succeed Benítez because he was dismayed by the quality of the shortlist, have dogged Hodgson throughout his time. "I don't like hearing those things. I am trying to do the best job I can and I am working hard. So it is not something I appreciate. But it is not something I can control.

"It's the Kop's way of showing they are not happy with the way the team is playing. As manager, you have to accept responsibility for that. We did have a good spell a while back but it seems a far and distant memory now."