Sunday, July 18, 2010

Hodgson Isists Torres And Gerrard Are Staying

Roy Hodgson has held face-to-face talks with Fernando Torres and club captain Steven Gerrard to tell the Liverpool pair they are not for sale.

Hodgson, whose first competitive fixture in charge will be a Europa League third qualifying round first-leg tie against either FK Rabotnicki or FC Mika at Anfield on July 29, met Gerrard on Merseyside before flying to Spain for talks with Torres earlier this week.

Both Gerrard and Torres have given little public indication of their intentions, despite long-term speculation linking the pair with moves away from Liverpool following the club's failure to secure Champions League football this season.

With Chelsea and Manchester City courting Torres, Hodgson admitted he had made it clear to the Spain striker he had no intention of allowing him to leave Anfield.

Hodgson said: "I have met with Fernando. It was a pleasant conversation that took place where he is holidaying after the World Cup.

"As far as we are concerned, Fernando Torres is a Liverpool player. We want him to remain a Liverpool player and he is not for sale. We are not welcoming any offers for him because we want to keep him."

"I left him in the company of our chief executive (Christian Purslow) to come here (Liverpool's training camp in Switzerland)," Hodgson added. "You would have to speak to Christian to find out how that particular conversation went.

"My talk was not that long because I had to get here for the training camp. It was purely on football matters -- the World Cup, how he did, how his injury is and how much I am looking forward to working with him."

Gerrard has continued to figure high on Real Madrid's most-wanted list, but Hodgson insisted that the midfielder's future remained at Anfield.

Gerrard reports back for training next week, but will not be travelling to the team's Swiss base.

"What we haven't had is a club come in and say, 'We want to buy Steven Gerrard.' As far as I am concerned, Steven is not for sale. I made that clear to him," said Hodgson.

"I completely support the club policy -- we want him, we need him at Liverpool and we want to build a team around the good players that we have. We don't want to sell them and start again.

"I have tried to contact Javier Mascherano. I have left him voice messages and sent him texts but have had no reply. To be fair to him, that's not unusual because he's had a tough World Cup and I believe he's gone back to Argentina. It's not always easy to get in touch with people.

"I have tried to reach him to make it clear I am happy to talk with him at his convenience."

Liverpool's pairing with Macedonian outfit Rabotnicki or Armenian club Mika leaves Hodgson and his players with the prospect of a difficult journey to eastern Europe for the second leg on August 5, 10 days before the Premier League opener at home to Arsenal.

Their opponents will be confirmed next week after the conclusion of the second qualifying round. Rabotnicki hold the edge in their tie with Mika after a 1-0 victory in the first leg.

Victory would put Liverpool through to a play-off round -- along with the likes of Man City and Aston Villa -- for a place in the group stages.

"We know we will get two tough games," Hodgson said. "We also have to get as many of our players as fit as we can for the first leg, but we already know the four players involved in the World Cup final won't be involved in these games."

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