Match Report: Wigan 1 - 1 Liverpool

Liverpool's four-match winning run was halted by a lively Wigan at the DW Stadium as Roy Hodgson's side faded badly after taking an early lead.

Despite being given an early advantage by Fernando Torres' third goal in four days, the visitors lost their grip on the game midway through the first half and never regained it.

Wigan equalised through Hugo Rodallega in the 52nd minute and finished the better side as the Merseysiders appeared to feel the exertions of beating Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

That will be a concern to manager Hodgson, who has complained about the depth of quality in his squad, with a trip to Stoke next up on Saturday.

The draw meant Liverpool missed the chance to move into the top five - a scenario which seemed a distant prospect just a few weeks ago with the Reds mired in the relegation zone until they put together three league wins to add to a victory in Europe.

It must also have annoyed Hodgson because, as they did against Chelsea, his side began strongly with Sunday's man of the match Lucas Leiva unleashing a 25-yard strike which Ali Al Habsi just managed to tip over.

The next time the visitors attacked the goalkeeper was given no chance by a clinical Torres.

An unusual statistic for this season is that all Liverpool's league goals, apart from their opening match against Arsenal, have either been scored or provided by Steven Gerrard and Torres.

The Reds' star duo demonstrated why their partnership is so successful in the seventh minute when Gerrard was given far too much time to carry the ball through midfield.

His perfectly-weighted 30-yard pass allowed Torres to outpace Gary Caldwell and fire across Al Habsi into the far corner of the goal.

It was the 26-year-old's first away goal since March 21 and, considering his prolific record, only the 17th in 41 matches outside Anfield.

The simplicity of that strike was contrasted by their next move, which saw Gerrard, Torres and Dirk Kuyt combine before the captain volleyed over from the Dutchman's header.

Torres was looking at his dangerous best and when Antolin Alcaraz stumbled he was clean through only for referee Peter Walton to pull play back for a non-existent foul.

Charles N'Zogbia looked Wigan's best outlet and he thought he had equalised in the 33rd minute when he seized on Lucas' weak pass and played a one-two with Rodallega to tap home but his team-mate had already been flagged offside.

A Ronnie Stam pass intended for Rodallega at the near post rolled agonisingly wide of the far upright as Wigan finished the half on the up.

Raul Meireles was replaced by Jonjo Shelvey for the start of the second half and the teenager's first contribution was to give the ball away to Rodallega but his forward pass to N'Zogbia was too strong.

The Colombian was not so wasteful moments later when Jose Reina could only palm Stam's low cross into his path and he gratefully fired home left-footed.

Wigan sensed their chance as Liverpool's play became increasingly ragged and Martinez sent on young forward Victor Moses for Jordi Gomez.

Kuyt's strike from Shelvey's deflected shot was half-saved by Al Habsi before it crossed the line but the Holland international had come back from an offside position and it was ruled out.

It was a brief rally as Stam again found room down the right to cross and Martin Kelly had to hack away at the far post under pressure from Tom Cleverley.

Gerrard's shot 10 minutes from time crashed down off the crossbar but not over the line with Al Habsi beaten as the game became end-to-end.

But it was Liverpool who were grateful for the final whistle as Mohamed Diame and N'Zogbia both forced low saves out of Reina.

The result may prove to only be a blip in Liverpool's recovery but Hodgson cannot allow his side to lose any momentum having built up so much confidence over the last three weeks.

Wigan may ultimately have been disappointed with a point, having won the corresponding fixture last season and finished so strongly, but it at least avoided a third successive league defeat.

Gerrard Deserves Place Among The Liverpool Legends

Jamie Carragher was no doubt awash with adrenalin and relief when he claimed his team-mate Steven Gerrard was the best player ever to pull on the red shirt of Liverpool. He had, after all, just watched Gerrard destroy Napoli with such single-handed authority and power he might have been a combination of Batman and Roy of the Rovers.

But is Gerrard better than Dalglish, Souness, Smith, Keegan, Rush, Callaghan, Hansen, Barnes, St John, Hunt and, for a few electric seasons, Michael Owen? It is a formidable roll call of extraordinary ability, and achievement, even when you exclude the man many Merseysiders will go to their graves believing was the best of them all: the legendary Billy Liddell.

For those of us who didn't see the Scotsman there is certainly no lack of glowing testament to his consistent brilliance along the wing. There are also two nuggets of evidence suggesting he indeed belonged in the very highest echelon. On the only two occasions a Great Britain team was selected, in 1947 and 1955, Liddell was included – at the expense of the great Sir Tom Finney. Sir Stanley Matthews played on the right in a 6-1 victory and a 1-4 defeat against the Rest of Europe, and in the first game some witnesses claimed they had never seen such wingers.

If Finney ever needed any reassurance after those rejections it would come, generously enough, many years later at the place where Liddell was so revered. Bill Shankly was asked how he would compare an up-and-coming star of the day, Tony Currie of Sheffield United and England, with his former Preston North End team-mate and idol. "Very favourably," Shankly said with due solemnity, "but remember Tommy is in his sixties now. However, I would still play him even in his overcoat."

No doubt Shankly would have loved Gerrard, and especially adored his ability to break open a game with his extraordinary eruptions of power and virtuosity, but then he also put a huge value on craft and guile and a mean fighting instinct. This, surely, would have carried Graeme Souness high on his list. For sheer accomplishment in what they did, Souness, Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Ian Rush and Ian St John would have received plenty of recognition in any assessment made in the shadow of Gerrard's current impact. He said of St John: "If he had been a boxer, as he could have been, St John would have been a middleweight. I love that weight. It has both power and speed."

Any inclination, though, to accuse Carragher of excessive partiality towards a friend and a team-mate, is impressively cautioned by a man who has either seen or played alongside all the contenders for the prize handed to Gerrard last week. Ian Callaghan, who would himself be on the long list of most sound judges, played 857 times for Liverpool, which makes him particularly well placed to bring down the stones from the top of the mountain.

He agrees with Carragher, after drawing up his own short list of Liddell, Dalglish and Gerrard. Still, a hundred questions rise up. Would Gerrard, if uprooted from Anfield, make the kind of impact in Italy that Souness did when he moved there after his superb contribution to Liverpool's achievements in Europe? Would he look quite so outstanding in a team surrounded by the quality that accompanied those such as Dalglish and Rush and Hansen on their journey along the peaks of the game?

Really, who can make such arbitrary judgements? Certainly, though, there is no hardship allowing Carragher his prejudice – and agreeing that he enjoys the company of one of the great Liverpool players.

Comolli Impressed By Payet

Liverpool official Damien Comolli has heaped praise on St Etienne winger Dimitri Payet, rating him as more naturally talented than Tottenham man Luka Modric.

Comolli, who was appointed as the new director of football strategy at Anfield last week, had plenty of time to observe Payet in his former role as director of sport at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

The Frenchman is also familiar with Spurs midfielder Modric, having spent three years as director of football at White Hart Lane.

Comolli suggests Payet, who has been recently linked with a move to Liverpool, has more to offer than Croatian playmaker Modric, and says the 23-year-old would be more than capable of plying his trade outside his homeland.

"On a natural class level, Dimitri is stronger than a player like Modric, (who) I saw very closely at Tottenham," Comolli told France Football.

"It is a very high level. We never stopped repeating to him: 'It is only up to you to join a French team'."

Sochaux coordinator of sports Jacques Crevoisier, former assistant to Gerard Houllier at Liverpool, agrees Payet has massive potential, likening him to French stars such as Djibril Cisse and Thierry Henry.

"Dimitri is a sprinter," said Crevoisier. "He is a little like Djibril Cisse and Thierry Henry when they were 14 or 15-years-old.

"Two years ago, I advised St Etienne to make him work on his endurance. He is now good on that level."

Juventus Join Inter Milan In Race For Daniel Agger

Juventus have joined Inter Milan in the race for Liverpool centre-back Daniel Agger , according to Italian reports.

The Tutto Mercato Web Site says Inter Milan are favourites to land the 25-year-old Dane, who would be reuniting with his old manager Rafa Benitez.

The Dane, in his sixth season at Liverpool, is currently out injured with a calf problem and hasn't played since September 25.

Agger is contracted to Liverpool until 2013/2014 and is valued at €7.5M-10M.

Liverpool Keeping Tabs On Talented Basel Midfielder Valentin Stocker

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is tracking Basel's highly-rated midfielder Valentin Stocker as he continues to make plans for his Anfield revamp.

Stocker, 21, already has six caps for Switzerland and is renowned for his goalscoring ability.

He scored twice against Wales in last month's European Championship qualifier.

Liverpool are also watching PSV Eindhoven left winger Balazs Dzsudzsak, 23, along with Arsenal and Tottenham.

Liverpool Boss Sets Sights On £8m Rated Ivica Olic

Liverpool are reportedly interested in making a move for Bayern Munich striker Ivica Olic. The hugely experienced Croatian international has found it increasingly difficult to force his way into Louis Van Gaal’s first team picture even though last season 19 goals helped the Bavarian club to a Bundesliga title and a Champions League Final berth.

The 31 year old is clearly in the latter stages of his career but still has a great deal to offer and would be available at a much cheaper price than Mario Gomez who had previously been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool. The German international has gone on to have a terrific start to the season at the Allianz Arena where he has become a regular starter and has netted ten goals already.

Ivica Olic has been a very consistent marksman during his time in Germany with both Bayern and Hamburg and was also huge success in Russia with CSKA Moscow and may well be ready for a new challenge and at his age the Croat will not want to be wasting time bench warming waiting for his colleagues to get injured or suspended so that he can make an impact this has led to the striker being handed just three Bundesliga starts this season.

Rafa Benitez was said to have been interested in signing the powerfully built striker back in 2008 and Hodgson seems similarly interested. The Anfield manager has stated his hopeful intentions to bring in five or six players in January and adding a further attacking threat would have to be very high up on his priority list.

Olic is thought to be valued at around £8m and Bayern Munich would more than likely not put up much of a fight if they felt that the player wanted to leave. Louis Van Gaal has a host of attacking options, many of whom are significantly younger that Ivica and therefore his chances of forcing a way back into a regular starting spot seem problematic.

Frank Rijkaard Would Find An Offer From Liverpool 'Attractive'

The agent of former Barcelona and Galatasaray coach Frank Rijkaard has claimed that the Dutch coach would like to manage in the Premier League or Serie A, with Liverpool being an attractive option.

Speaking to El Mecurio, Rijkaard's agent Perry Overeem indicated his belief that his client would favour a move to either England or Italy, with Liverpool previously strongly linked, citing his experiences at Barcelona to prove that the Dutchman is a capable coach.

"He wants to choose major European football teams in the Premier League or Calcio," Overeem said.

"I think that is attractive to a coach who showed in Barcelona he has the ability to manage in the best leagues in the world. He will surely be working in one or two months."

Rijkaard's agent also denied any link to the vacant Chilean manager's job, following the departure of Argentinean coach Marcelo Bielsa, affectionately nicknamed "El Loco" by fans for his eccentric style.

"I have not received any call from Chile or from that side of the world," the agent stated.

"The story is nothing but a rumor."

NESV Appoint Firm To Recruit CEO

New England Sports Ventures (NESV) today confirmed that it has appointed Spencer Stuart, the global executive search firm, to advise on the recruitment of a new Chief Executive Officer for LFC following the departure of Christian Purslow.

The search, which is to begin with immediate effect, will be led by Jonathan Smith at Spencer Stuart and will look at candidates from within the UK and internationally.

The focus for the appointment will be on business leaders with an interest in, and experience of, football.

NESV Principal Owner John Henry and NESV Chairman Tom Werner will be responsible for appointing the new Liverpool FC CEO and hope to be able to complete the process early in the new year.

Premier League Preview: Wigan Athletic vs Liverpool

Martinez’s side could find themselves bottom of the league on Wednesday night if they lose against Liverpool and other results go against them.

The Latics have not won in four games and have only one victory in their last eight games, a run that will have fans worried about where their season is headed.

It is not easy to see where Wigan’s problems lie, as a meagre goal tally of just eight is the lowest in the Premier League.

However, Wigan picked up their first win in ten Premier League games against Liverpool when the side’s last met in March.

Liverpool’s new owners have witnessed a transformation in the club’s fortunes since their takeover.

Three league wins in a row for the first time in 14 months has lifted the Anfield club into the top half of the table, and appeared to quieten speculation about Hodgson’s future as manager.

However, Liverpool fans will not be over-confident going into the game against Wigan as their side have a miserable recent away record, managing just two away league wins in the whole of 2010.

TEAM NEWS

Wigan Athletic

Defender Steve Gohouri will miss the game through suspension as he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Blackburn on Saturday.

Manager Roberto Martinez will therefore have a dilemma over who to play at right-back as Emerson Boyce is still a week away from returning.

Midfielder James McCarthy is still recovering from an ankle operation following an injury he suffered against Bolton Wanderers.

Possible starting XI: Al Habsi; Stam, G. Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Diame, Thomas; Moses, Gomez, N'Zogbia; Rodallega

Liverpool

Manager Roy Hodgson is likely to keep his side unchanged after their outstanding victory over Chelsea on Sunday.

After impressing against the champions, Martin Kelly should keep his place at right-back, especially as Glen Johnson is still struggling with a groin problem.

Fellow defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos could return after tonsilitis but Daniel Agger (calf), Fabio Aurelio (groin) and Joe Cole (hamstring) remain out.

Possible starting XI: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky; Lucas, Meireles; Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi; Torres

Roy Hodgson: Next Two Results Crucial To Club's Progress

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has said the next two games will determine whether they are moving in the right direction.

The Reds have beaten Blackburn, Bolton and Chelsea and now sit ninth in the Premier League, facing two away trips - to Wigan and Stoke - in just three days.

"If we can do well in the next two games we'll continue to look up," Hodgson told the club's official website.

"If we were to have a couple of set-backs, once again we'll be looking down; I speak for a large number of teams when I say that.

"It's so tight between the team that's third bottom and the team that's in fifth place; two results are going to make all the difference.

"If the league continues as it's started, we're going to see swings and turns all the time."

Hodgson also backed his summer signings to emulate Lucas Leiva and emerge as key performers.

He added: "Lucas is a young player and I have to keep being reminded he is not that old and does not have that much experience.

"People clearly marked my card as regards to many players and when I came I knew there was a prejudice against him.

"I have got to say I don't see what people really found to criticize in him.

"I find him very hard working, a very diligent player who works hard on his understanding of the game and team performances.

"Christian Poulsen, who has had a bad start to the season, is to some extent also a victim of prejudice at the moment.

"I am convinced in both of these players; we have really useful players who will serve us to great effect for the rest of the season.

"Maybe Christian will have to go through a bit of what Lucas went through but I know the players have the quality we are looking for and I know they are going to help us win matches.

"Raul [Meireles] is a good footballer and was very good in setting up the second goal for Fernando Torres against Chelsea and I think we will get a lot of use out of him.

"I am quite happy players like him don't necessarily get put totally under the microscope from the day they arrive because even coming from a top team like Porto it takes time to settle.

"Every player who comes here has to go through that adaptation process."

Fernando Torres Believes Liverpool Can Still Challenge For 'Big Things' This Season

Liverpool's star striker, Fernando Torres, has been encouraged by the team's and his own performance in Sunday's 2-0 win over champions Chelsea at Anfield.

The Reds have seemingly turned around their disastrous early-season form and have won their last four games, with the highlight being the most recent win over the league leaders.

Torres, who scored both goals in the victory, told the club's official website: "I am really happy with the victory - just like all the fans.

"It was a good result and a great performance from the team. It was a day we have to enjoy but we now have a game coming up in a few days and we have to be focused on that.

"We always play like this against the top teams. When we play Man United, Arsenal or Chelsea we often produce a great performance, but now we have to do the same against the teams in the middle of the table. If we do that we will be fighting for big things at the end of the season.

"We've won four games in a row now. This is what we have to be doing more regularly because this is what Liverpool is all about.

"We are now moving in the right direction."

Liverpool Poised To Land Dutch International On Free

Liverpool are being heavily linked with a free transfer move for Ajax full-back Urby Emanuelson.

The Dutch international defender's contract talks have broken down at the Amsterdam Arena, leaving agent Brian Berkleef to hint that the player could leave the club for free in the summer.

Roy Hodgson is thought to have targeted the 24-year-old as competition for Paul Konchesky at Liverpool, and the player's versatility as a potential left winger is also thought form part of the Merseyside club's interest.

“There are plenty of interested clubs. I won’t confirm or deny any names though. However, I’ve told interested teams that Urby won’t leave Ajax during the winter transfer window,” said Berkleef.

The news means that Liverpool could sign the player for free on a pre-contract agreement in January, meaning he would move to Anfield in the summer.

Emanuelson joined the famous Ajax academy in 1994, and worked his way through the youth system before making his debut as a teenager in 2005.

Capped 11 times by Holland, the player is not short of experience with well over 200 appearances in the Eredivisie, Champions League, and Europa League.

New Liverpool owners NESV have promised the manager a transfer war chest in the region of £35 million, and Hodgson is thought to have targeted 'five or six' players for moves in the opening month of 2011.

Dutch paper De Telegraaf link a host of European clubs with a move for Emanuelson, but Liverpool are thought to be at the front of the queue for the talented player.

Liverpool Edge Closer To Signing Talented £7m Playmaker

It is being reported that Roy Hodgson will push on his efforts to land Tottenham playmaker Niko Kranjcar who appears to be surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane. The Croatian international’s own father is backing his son’s move to Anfield and Harry Redknapp may well allow the former Portsmouth player leave rather than see him rot on the bench.

The 26 year old has started just one Premier League match this season, the weekend defeat at Bolton, and appears to have not impressed his boss with his average performance which ended when he was hauled off for similarly bench bound David Bentley. A move for the talented attack minded midfielder would set Liverpool back around £7m, which seems a fair price for a player with a great deal of experience and adaptability.

Rafa Planning Agger Coup

Rafa Benitez is planning to raid former club Liverpool for Daniel Agger as he hunts a replacement for stopper Walter Samuel.

The Argentine is out for the season after scans showed he suffered serious ligament damage to the knee in the clash with Brescia.

That has left Benitez short of defensive options and he has been given the green light to bring in reinforcements in the transfer window.

Danish international Agger is top of his wish list. The pair worked together during Benitez’s time at Anfield.

And it was on the insistence of Benitez that the Anfield board agreed to hand the defender a new four year, £70,000 a week deal in May 2009.

Agger has missed a large chunk of the season with a calf problem but Benitez is hopeful he will recover his fitness by the time the transfer window opens.

And Benitez said: “Since we’ve lost such an important player as Samuel, we will have to arrange the roster in January.’’

Liverpool To Take On AC Milan For £9million Honda

Liverpool are ready to challenge AC Milan for the services of Japanese superstar Keisuke Honda.

The versatile CSKA Moscow midfielder, who can also operate as a second striker or in the holding role, has been attracting interest from the Serie A giants since starring for Japan in the World Cup.

But Liverpool's new sporting director Damien Comolli is keen for the club to take Honda to Anfield in January.

According to Russian sources, a bid of around £9m should be enough to prize Honda away from Moscow, but should Liverpool make a move, Milan could launch a counter-offer.

Amoo Strikes In Leeds Draw

David Amoo was on target as a young Liverpool reserve team fought back to secure a 2-2 draw with Leeds United at the Academy on Tuesday afternoon.

The Reds went in at the interval trailing to two quick-fire goals after initially struggling to combat the pace and power of an experienced opposition.

However, they reduced the arrears on 53 minutes through Amoo's cool finish before substitute Adam Morgan cracked home the equalizer with a stunning shot from the edge of the box.

John McMahon named a relatively inexperienced starting XI for the visit of the Yorkshire outfit with many of the youngsters on show likely to make up the majority of this season's Youth Cup team.

It gave a fascinating glimpse into the level of talent emerging from the Reds' Academy and they almost got off to the perfect start when they came within a whisker of opening the scoring on three minutes.

Toni Silva cut in from the right flank and teased a clever pass into Suso who saw his audacious 30 yarder arrow just wide of the right-hand post.

The Reds were looking lively on the counter attack and after Suso drilled another effort way off target, Amoo could only help Bruna's drilled cross into the grateful arms of the Leeds stopper.

It had been a solid opening for McMahon's team but just when it seemed they were getting on top, the visitors sprung forward and snatched the advantage on 28 minutes.

It was a shock to the system for the youngsters and before they could recover they were two down as the away side tucked home a penalty after Stephen Sama was penalized.

At this point it was all Leeds and they should have made it three just before interval but the ball cannoned back off the far post, much to the relief of Dean Bouzanis in the Liverpool goal.

A flurry of half-time substitutions meant there were more than a few new faces as the second-half got underway and the Reds made a determined start.

Roy Hodgson was an interested spectator on the sidelines and his quick chat with Amoo seemed to make an immediate impact as the forward gave the hosts a lifeline on 53 minutes.

Suso gained possession just inside the Leeds half and played a sublimely weighted ball into Amoo who made no mistake, rounding the 'keeper and coolly slotting home.

It gave the Reds the lift they needed and within five minutes they were level as Morgan cut in from the left and flashed a stunning shot into the top corner. It was a goal right out of the top drawer and one that must have impressed the watching Hodgson.

The momentum was now with Liverpool and after Suso saw his curling free-kick well saved Amoo drilled just wide of the upright.

Steven Irwin, Nicolaj Kohlert and Amoo all went close before Morgan was denied a last-gasp winner when he saw his shot from point-blank range brilliantly saved.

John W Henry Determined To Keep Fernando Torres And Pepe Reina

Liverpool’s new owner, New England Sports Ventures, is determined to prove its ambitions match those of its most valuable assets, Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina, to keep them at Anfield.

Though NESV has held initial talks with both Spanish internationals — as well as a number of other senior players — to discuss both their contractual status and any issues they have with the club, it knows that both goalkeeper and striker will need to see tangible evidence of change if they are to remain on Merseyside beyond next summer.

Clauses inserted into Reina and Torres’s contracts last summer would allow the former to leave should an offer of £20 million arrive next year, while it is believed the latter has a gentleman’s agreement that he would be permitted to depart should Liverpool remain out of the Champions League next season.

NESV is aware that both players’ disenchantment stems from a year of empty vows on forthcoming investment made by Liverpool’s previous hierarchy. While the consortium’s principal, John W Henry, has made clear he does not intend to keep unhappy players at the club, he is determined to use the next nine months to convince them not to activate those clauses.

That will require substantial investment in the playing resources at Roy Hodgson’s disposal in January — hence the rapid appointment of Damien Comolli as director of football strategy — while NESV’s cause will be helped by the improvement in results in recent weeks.

From the ignominy of sitting in the relegation zone after defeat in the Merseyside derby — a result which seemed to condemn Hodgson to the briefest of reigns at Anfield — Liverpool now stand just five points behind third-placed Arsenal after winning three Premier League games in a row.

“We are now moving in the right direction,” said Torres after the most recent of those successes, against Chelsea. The 26 year-old is keenly aware, though, that Liverpool must maintain those standards in forthcoming games against less illustrious opponents.

“I am really happy with the victory, just like all the fans,” he said. “It was a day we have to enjoy but now we have to be focused on our next game.

“We always play like that against the top teams. When we play Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea we often produce a great performance, but now we have to do the same against the teams in the middle of the table. If we do that we will be fighting for big things at the end of the season.”

The first of those tests comes against Wigan at the DW Stadium on Wednesday night, the stage for a 1-0 defeat that was arguably the most disappointing Liverpool performance in 18 months of almost ceaseless gloom. Hodgson’s side will make the journey up the M6 with rather more spring in their step than they might have done, though, thanks to their rejuvenated Spanish striker.

“This is the worst time to play Liverpool,” said Roberto Martinez, the Wigan manager. “On Sunday you could see the old Fernando Torres was back. That is a good sign for Liverpool, and a very bad sign for everybody else. He is part of that elite group of top strikers. There are only five or six in the world, but he is unique in the Premier League.

“Looking back at the amount of niggles and injuries he has had, as well as the fact that all the big players get to the World Cup and try and put extra energy into it, that affects the starts of the next season.

“But he is a clinical finisher and his movement is excellent. Like all the big players at Liverpool, he looks happy and like he is enjoying his football. He is a really focused boy, and if you look at how he was the youngest captain in Atletico Madrid’s history, it shows how mature he is.

“When he came out in the summer and made clear he wanted to stay, it was never in doubt he would get back to his best.”

He was helped against Chelsea, of course, by Hodgson’s decision to alter his system to suit the Spanish international’s strengths. Raul Meireles and Maxi Rodriguez were given licence to support him from the flanks, Steven Gerrard and Lucas attacked from midfield, while Dirk Kuyt was employed as a deep-lying forward to free the striker from defensive duties.

The most significant factor, though, according to the Dutchman, was that the confidence imbued in Liverpool by their recent run of impressive results manifested itself in a high-tempo, disciplined performance which created the sort of chances Torres thrives on after weeks of famine.

“We say in Holland that one and one is two,” Kuyt said. “It means that when the team plays well, the striker plays well. That is what happened with Fernando.”

Liverpool To Sell £4.5m Flop Christian Poulsen In January

Liverpool are ready to ditch Christian Poulsen just months after he signed for the club, Goal.com UK can reveal.

The Danish midfielder has failed to impress since his £4.5 million summer move from Juventus and could be on his way out of Anfield as soon as January.

New director of football strategy Damien Comolli does not believe Poulsen has a future at Liverpool and wants to bring in a younger replacement with more potential.

It is believed manager Roy Hodgson would back the sale of the former Sevilla star but only if an upgrade can be brought in as he is concerned by the small size of his squad.

Poulsen, 30, has lost his place in the Reds starting line-up over the last few weeks after a series of substandard performances at the start of the season.

Pepe Reina Warns Liverpool He May Leave At The End Of The Season

The Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has indicated that he will consider leaving the club at the end of the season if he is not satisfied with their progress.

The Spaniard has ruled out asking for a move in January but said he wants to feel certain that the team will challenge for major honours under the club's new owners, New England Sports Ventures.

"I signed a six-year deal seven months ago and I'm happy at the club but every footballer wants to be competing for trophies and winning things," Reina was quoted by the Daily Mail. "I will stay at Liverpool until the end of the season. I know there are rumours of me leaving but I want to make it clear that I have no intention of going back to Spain."

Reina has won only one major trophy, the 2006 FA Cup, since he joined from Villarreal five years ago, although he did play in the 2007 Champions League final defeat by Milan.

He spoke glowingly of the club's former manager Rafael Benítez, who signed him. Benítez left last summer to take over at Internazionale and was succeeded by Roy Hodgson, who has overcome a difficult start at Anfield to record four straight wins, including Sunday's over the Premier League leaders and champions, Chelsea.

"Rafael Benítez was an essential person for this club and the reason I came to Liverpool," Reina said.

The goalkeeper recently held talks with Liverpool's new owner, John W Henry, as did the striker Fernando Torres, another player who has been linked with a possible move if the club's fortunes do not continue to pick up.

Henry said he had been "heartened by the response" of Reina and Torres and "the intelligence of these players". The American described himself as "upset" at suggestions they could leave in January.

Liverpool Ready To Sign Unhappy Aston Villa Midfielder Stephen Ireland

It is being reported that Roy Hodgson is monitoring Aston Villa playmaker Stephen Ireland with a view to making a move for the Irishman if he is indeed placed on the transfer list as some sources are stating will happen in time for the opening of the January transfer window.

The 24 year old has not had the best of starts at Villa Park and has started just three Premier League matches under the Gerard Houllier regime leaving many to believe the former Man City man may not be a player the Frenchman values.

Roy Hodgson has publicly stated his desire to bring in five or six players in to help improve his Anfield squad and the former Fulham boss is known to be an admirer of the talented attack minded midfielder. A move for Stephen Ireland is likely to set back Liverpool around £12m a figure the club’s new owners are more likely to accept now that they have seen the Merseyside club experience a sharp up turn in fortunes.