Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has given his backing to manager Roy Hodgson but admits results must improve.

Hodgson has been under pressure for most of his five months at Anfield, with Liverpool winning only one of their first eight Premier League matches this season. Things have improved since then but Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Newcastle at St James' Park was another low and extended their record of only one away win this season.

 "We just got here, Roy got here shortly before us. Nobody, least of all Roy, was happy with our performance last weekend," Werner told the club's official site.

I don't think we (Liverpool) have been strong enough physically and strong enough mentally away from home.
Roy Hodgson, Liverpool manager

"We have to perform better, especially on the road. We believe in what Roy is doing and we certainly feel like the performance has to improve, and he'd be the first to say that."

Hodgson, meanwhile, today revealed his anger with Liverpool's showing at St James' Park and challenged his players to become stronger physically and mentally.

"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," he told the club website.

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

"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 have been strong enough physically and strong enough mentally away from home," said the Liverpool manager.