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David Hodgson, an England Under 21 international striker, signed for
Liverpool from Middlesbrough for £450,000 in August 1982, joining two
other former Boro stars, Graeme Souness and Craig Johnston, at Anfield
in the process. Signed more for his pace than his goalscoring ability
(he had managed only 16 goals in 125 League games while at
Midlesbrough), David made his debut on August 21, 1982, as a sub for
Kenny Dalglish in the second half of the Charity Shield game at Wembley
against Tottenham, a match Liverpool won 1-0 with a goal from Ian Rush.
Hodgson made his League debut a week later in a 2-0 win over West
Bromwich Albion at Anfield, playing alongside Dalglish and Rush in an
adventurous 4-3-3 formation.
His first goal for Liverpool came in a 2-0
League win against Arsenal at Highbury on September 4, 1982, and he
followed this up four days later with two more strikes in a thrilling
4-3 League victory over Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Scoring again in a
4-1 win at Irish side Dundalk in a European Cup tie on September 14,
David had made an impressive start to his Liverpool career with a haul
of four goals in six games. However, manager Bob Paisley now decided to
switch back to a more traditional system of 4-4-2 and Hodgson was
replaced in the side by Mark Lawrenson, who operated as a holding
midfielder. David did not start another League game until just before
Christmas, making the most of his recall by scoring the opener in a 4-2
win at Aston Villa. With Lawrenson now paired with Alan Hansen in his
more accustomed central defensive role, Hodgson enjoyed a run of 15
successive games in the side, finding the net against Blackburn in the
FA Cup and West Ham and Burnley in the League Cup, his goals helping
Liverpool reach the final of the latter competion for the third season
in a row.
However, David's failure to score in the eight League games in
the period up to mid-February led to a spell on the bench and he did
not start a game again until March 16 when, due to an injury to Kenny
Dalglish, he appeared in a European Cup second leg tie at Anfield
against Polish side Widzew Lodz. Hodgson scored in the 89th minute to
ensure a 3-2 victory, but that proved insufficient as Liverpool had
surprisingly lost the first leg 2-0 and so were knocked out 4-3 on
aggregate. Hodgson started the last five League games of the season but
failed to add to his goal tally. Nevertheless, with 23 League
appearances (and four goals) he had done enough to earn a Championship
medal as Liverpool collected their 14th League title. After an
encouraging first term, the 1983-84 season was to prove an anti-climax
for David.
The arrival of Michael Robinson from Brighton in August 1983
added to the wealth of striking options at Anfield and Hodgson was
limited to only five League appearances, including just one start, in a
0-0 draw away to Luton on February 18, 1984. He played in seven other
games, scoring his only goal of the season in a 4-0 League Cup win over
Brentford. That Luton game proved to be David's last in a red shirt and
he returned to his native North East, with a £125,000 move to
Sunderland, in August 1984. He made a total of 49 appearances for
Liverpool, scoring 10 goals. (Martin Greensill)
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