ROY HODGSON staged a Melwood sitdown with his under-performing players yesterday to express his “anger” and his “sadness” at Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by Newcastle.

The Liverpool manager called a meeting of his players and staff where he expressed his dismay at the side’s “woeful” away record.

After the promising performance at Tottenham where Liverpool unluckily lost, the Reds reverted to type with another slack and sloppy display in the North-east – their sixth away defeat in nine matches this season.

“I was saddened and certainly angry with our performance because in recent weeks we have shown we are capable of playing good football and we were looking like a very solid and strong unit,” Hodgson rapped.

“Even though we got back into the game against Newcastle and then had chances to go in front, because of our capitulation at the end I still wasn't happy with the performance.

“I don't think the level of performance was what I was expecting right from the first minute to the 90th minute. There were far too many poor performances and as a result that led to a poor team performance.

“We've had quite a long get-together with the team on that subject and everyone agreed with me that it was a performance way below our best and we can't afford those type of performances.

“We had a few right at the start of the season which put us on the back foot and then some good performances got us onto the front foot and that's where we have got to stay.

“We know we have to improve our performances away from home. There is an element of confidence, we can't deny that, but basically I don't think we've been strong enough physically and strong enough mentally away from home.

“If we are going to improve upon our woeful away record it will be because we have become more physically and mentally stronger.

“We have to adopt a harder core to our performance and make us harder to beat and then we won't concede the type of goals when all the opposition goalkeeper has to do is kick a long ball into the heart of our defence and then there's a goal chance.

“We have got to make certain we stop any vulnerability with that simplistic type of play.

“We have got to work hard on the training ground and to be fair to the players, even after a very long meeting today, a long post-match analysis and quite a lot of critical words aimed at the team's direction, out on the field they worked extremely hard and I think that's what will get us through bad periods in the long run.”

Meanwhile Dirk Kuyt is hoping he won’t be rested for tomorrow night’s reunion with his old club FC Utrecht – but manager Roy Hodgson is unlikely to listen to the player’s plea.

The Dutch international was thrilled when Liverpool were drawn against the club where he started his career and helped win the Dutch Cup – and he enjoyed an emotional homecoming for September’s goalless draw in Utrecht.

But with Liverpool already having qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League and Utrecht already out, tomorrow night’s visit is a dead rubber. (Europa League rules employ head to head results between sides who finish on the same points, before goal difference, so Liverpool cannot be caught at the top and Utrecht cannot overhaul either Napoli or Steaua).

After scoring two goals in his last four appearances after a spell on the sidelines with shoulder and ankle injuries, Kuyt is keen to carry on.

If selected Kuyt would also be making his 50th Liverpool appearance in Europe, the 19th Reds star to achieve the feat.

“I am a player who always wants to be involved in every game and if the manger needs me I will be there for him on Wednesday,” said Kuyt.

“I have missed a few games through injury this season and I hope I can feature against my former club.

“We play a lot of games in a season and obviously you can't play in every game but it would be nice to play against Utrecht at Anfield.

“We have done really well in the Europa League and it would be nice to finish the group stages with a good performance at home.

“I had some good times at Utrecht and a lot of people are still there at the club who I am good friends with.”

Boss Hodgson, however, is unlikely to take any chances with his squad.

Neither Steven Gerrard nor Fernando Torres will be risked, with youngsters like Danny Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey and Dani Pacheco likely to be given an opportunity to impress.