Cole: We Can Be Great Again

Joe Cole is convinced Liverpool are not that far away from a return to the great days after he admitted Anfield was always the hardest away ground to play at for Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League.

Liverpool's new No.10 has settled in quickly to his new surroundings and can't wait to parade his skills in front of the Kop.

"Look at all the pictures around this place and you want more of that," said Cole.

"The whole club is built on success. I can feel the hunger and the desire here, and that's a great base to come from.

"The gaffer's experience and organization are another positive and with all the quality players they have here, I am convinced we will do better than last season.

"When I had decided to leave Chelsea I didn't want to rush into a decision, you only get one career, but my first thought was Liverpool and my last thought was Liverpool. Now I want to concentrate on helping this club gets back up again.

"As soon as I walked into this place I loved it and I believe we can do something special here.

"I'm not one of those players who walks into a place and says I've always supported them, but I have always thought a lot of the supporters here.

"Liverpool was always the hardest away game in our fixtures, harder than going to Old Trafford. If we can make that the base and a fortress again, and get some points on the road, anything can happen.

"I don't want to come up here and end up going back south every day off. I want to immerse myself in the place.

"Someone once gave me the advice that when move, you should always make sure you are part of the club.

"It's a big challenge for me, but I will do that here."

At the age of 28 Cole believes his best days are yet to come and his big hope is to play a major role in helping Roy Hodgson's side get back to what Liverpool are renowned for - winning trophies.

"I left a mark at Chelsea, being part of great teams that won things, Player of the Year and stuff, and I am proud of that," he added.

"Now I want to leave my mark at a massive club like this as well - I'm really excited about it.

"I wanted to come to somewhere at the start of something and it was easy to come here because it's such a massive club. It's all pointing in the right direction."

"I want to be part of a team, a successful team. I know what a successful team's about and what an unsuccessful one is too.

"I know what it takes to win titles, all I need here is time to settle in, regular games and to get used to playing with new players.

"When you've been at a club as long as I have, coming to a new one, with a different style, takes time but we will roll on from there. It's a long process and we have to be realistic, but we are double positive."

The England international also revealed he is fully recovered from the knee ligament injury he suffered in January 2009 and wants to make up for lost time by giving his best years to Liverpool.

"Last year was tough," he added.

"I was trying to get my match fitness back and prove I should be starting, maybe trying too hard, but it just wasn't happening.

"But I still made an impact and still proud of the part I played in a difficult season. Now this is a fresh start. I just need match fitness but my body is strong.

"The important thing is getting the back to back games and just playing regularly.

"The last time I played 90 minutes was February and I need to be able to do that week in week out, and I will do that.

"Roy made it very clear he wanted me as a player and what he wanted from me. All I need is time and patience."

Roy Hodgson Expects More Signings To Arrive Before End Of Transfer Window

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is confident of further adding to his squad before the end of this summer’s transfer window following the captures of Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Jonjo Shelvey, and Danny Wilson.

Hodgson, who will take charge of his first competitive game as Liverpool manager on Thursday in the third qualifying round of the Europa League against Macedonian side Rabotnicki, has spent a little over £3 million in transfer fees this summer, and the former Fulham boss is hoping there will be more new arrivals at the club.

"I am very excited and happy for the club that we have been able to sign three players of this quality," Hodgson explained at the unveiling of Cole, Jovanovic, and Wilson.

"It was important we made some signings early on and made clear to everyone that our intentions are very serious.

"I think it is clear from the players alongside me we are serious and we have been fortunate enough to acquire their services."

"We're still interested in some other players. I hope this won't be the last of our signings.

"The aim of the club, the aim of the board, Christian Purslow and everyone at the club, is to try and make this squad as competitive as possible."

Hodgson To Decide On Liverpool FC Euro Squad

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson will not try to protect senior stars like Steven Gerrard when the club’s Europa League campaign gets under way this week.

The 62-year-old will decide today whether the England captain, and his international team-mates Jamie Carragher, Glen Johnson and Joe Cole, should be included against Rabotnicki in the third qualifying round tie.

Liverpool’s medical team have advised the Englishman it is too soon to use those players who were on World Cup duty after just over a week back in pre-season training.

Hodgson has to weigh up whether it is more risky to leave the task of getting through into the competition proper in the hands of a reserve side who have not scored a goal in two warm-up matches.

But if he does select the likes of Gerrard he will at least respect their stature in the game by naming them in the starting line-up rather than keeping them on the bench for an emergency.

“I don’t know what to do at this stage,” he said.

“I will have to liaise with them and (head of sports science) Peter Brukner and make a decision by Tuesday on what sort of team I can put out.

“It is going to be a difficult discussion between myself and Peter because his feeling is we shouldn’t use any of them and I am going to be tempted to say I want to use quite a few of them.

“The only players I will take will be the ones that I definitely think will play a valuable part in the game.

“If we are talking about senior players, it would be players prepared to start the game. I would not take Steven Gerrard there to play for the last 10 minutes as a substitute.”

Liverpool Defender Jamie Carragher Expects Steven Gerrard And Fernando Torres To Stay At Anfield

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes star players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will stay at the club this summer.

The duo have been strongly linked with moves away from Anfield following the Reds’ poor form last season which saw them finish seventh in the Premier League, failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Torres has been attracting interest from Chelsea and Manchester City, whose manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed his interest in the striker, while Gerrard has been linked with Real Madrid.

Carragher says he is sure the duo will stay at Anfield and believes the club should be aiming to finish in the top four.

"There's been a lot of negativity and it's been like that for a while," he told ZOO magazine.

"I'm sure that Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will still be involved at the club next season.

"If they are, then the aim for Liverpool must be to get back into the Champions League."

The 32-year-old admits Liverpool’s expectations have been lowered after their campaign last season and says winning the Premier League is not their aim.

"Liverpool aren't a club like Real Madrid, who can just throw £100 million at it if we don't win the title," he said.

"For clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan, it's a disaster if they don't win the league, so they go out and spend big money on new players.

"Liverpool can't do that - we have to build. Next season, rather than thinking too much about the title, we have to concentrate on getting back into the top four.

"It's a rebuilding process again and hopefully we can get ourselves right up there.''

Mascherano Set To Leave Liverpool After Talks

Javier Mascherano has been told he can leave Liverpool, according to ESPNsoccernet sources, having held talks with the Liverpool hierarchy on Monday.

Mascherano, who captained Argentina at the World Cup, spoke with manager Roy Hodgson after returning from holiday, having previously ignored the new manager's attempts to contact him.

A source close to Mascherano told Soccernet: "The talks were extremely amicable. It was all done in a very nice way. Javier made it clear that he wanted to leave a year ago when he had the chance to go to Barcelona.

"He was asked to stay on for one more year, he agreed, so now it is time for him to go. It was all very pleasant and it is now a question of the two clubs who are interested in him making an acceptable offer to Liverpool."

Hodgson held talks with skipper Steven Gerrard and convinced him to stay, but has failed to convince Mascherano, who now looks likely to rejoin former manager Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan or seal a move to Spanish champions Barcelona, who are looking to replace Yaya Toure after admitting defeat over Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas.

Milan Jovanovic Confident He Will Be A Success At Liverpool FC

Milan Jovanovic is confident he has the physical attributes to be a success with Liverpool in the Premier League.

The Serbian midfielder has enjoyed his first few weeks training with the club in pre-season and he has a track record of success when playing English clubs.

In 2008/09 he scored against Everton in the Europa League and last season he found the net against Arsenal in the Champions League.

Jovanovic exclusively told LFC Weekly: “I scored against Arsenal last season. We lost the game 2-3 but that and my goal against Everton shows that I have done well against English teams so I hope this will continue!”

On World Cup duty with Serbia, Jovanovic had the opportunity to quiz international team-mates like Nemanja Vidic and Branislav Ivanovic about the Premier League.

The 29-year-old doesn’t think it will take long for him to adapt to English football.

“I did speak to some of my team-mates in the national team. I know that physically it is a demanding league but when I thought about this characteristic, I thought: ‘this is me.’

“I think I can do everything I need to play at the top level here. It is a long season and if you count games with the national team as well, you can be looking at 60 or 70 games but I feel okay and of course I am really looking forward to it.”

Jansen Committed To Hamburg

Germany full-back Marcell Jansen is committed to Hamburg despite interest from Liverpool, according to his agent.

The 24-year-old joined the Bundesliga club after an unsuccessful stint at rivals Bayern Munich for £7million in 2008 and was part of Germany's World Cup squad that finished in third place.

Jansen scored the opener in the Germans' 3-2 win over Uruguay and has reportedly caught the eye of Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson following his performances for Hamburg.

The Reds are looking for a left-back after selling Emiliano Insua to Fiorentina and releasing Fabio Aurelio, meaning they have no senior cover for the position.

Hodgson has been linked with moves for Paul Konchesky, Maynor Figueroa and Carlos Salcido, but so far none have come to fruition.

Jansen's ability to play as a left winger could be a reason behind a possible bid, but agent Gerd vom Bruch stated that the player was committed to his current club.

"The interest in him is a credit to Marcell," he told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper.

"But he is under contract with Hamburger SV and will be respecting this."

Real Sociedad Tracking Liverpool Starlet Dani Pacheco

Young Liverpool attacker Dani Pacheco has attracted the interest of Primera Division outfit Real Sociedad with his excellent performances for Spain at the under-19 European Championships, if a report in Marca is to be believed.

The newly promoted outfit is looking to add some more firepower to their ranks ahead of the start of the new season and head coach Martin Lasarte supposedly considers Pacheco to be the perfect addition to his attack.

The 19-year-old attacker came through the ranks of the Barcelona youth academy, but left the Catalan side for an English adventure at Liverpool in the summer of 2007. He made his official debut for the Reds in the Champions League match against Fiorentina in December 2009.

However, Pacheco has failed to secure regular first team action at Liverpool so far and could therefore be farmed out on loan in order to gain valuable first team experience.

Liverpool In Chase For Ipswich Town Starlet Connor Wickham

Liverpool are prepared to go toe-to-toe with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur to land England youth international Connor Wickham, according to The People.

The 17-year old is rated as one of the best young strikers outside the Premier League and Ipswich Town are rumoured to have already knocked back a £8 million bid from Spurs this summer. With Arsene Wenger also a fan, Wickham was expected to be playing his football in north London in the immediate future.

Reds manager Roy Hodgson is determined to beat those clubs to the target man's signature and has requested his board submit an £8.5 million to Roy Keane's side.

The former Fulham boss plans to use Liverpool's status to buy the centre forward, after being knocked back when he tried to snap him up last season.

Pacheco Lands Accolade

Dani Pacheco's irrepressible form for Spain at the U19 European Championships has seen him crowned Goal.com's World Player of the Week.

The Reds' No. 47 has struck three times in his country's march to a semi-final showdown with England and the football website has been quick to acknowledge his impact for La Rojita.

Goal.com wrote: "Central to Spain's cause has been Liverpool attacker Dani Pacheco.

"The former Barcelona cantera prodigy scored a brace to overturn Portugal and followed that up with an impressive showing against Italy on Saturday.

"Pacheco scored to send the Spaniards towards a semi-final showdown against England."

Aquilani Fit For Liverpool's Europa League Opener

Alberto Aquilani will be fit to take part in Liverpool's opening game of the season when they face FK Rabotnicki in the Europa League on Thursday.

Aquilani, who was restricted to just nine league starts last season due to injury, missed a 1-0 friendly defeat to Kaiserslautern on Saturday after suffering a knee problem.

However, with Liverpool missing a number of players following their World Cup commitments, Roy Hodgson has welcomed the news that Aquilani will be available.

"Peter [Brukner, head of sports medicine and sports science] told me he ran for the first time on Saturday," Hodgson told the club's official website. "So I would expect him to be fit for Thursday."

Liverpool's medical staff have advised Hodgson not to use any members of the squad who were involved at the World Cup finals, although with a place in the Europa League proper at stake, Hodgson has hinted he is ready to ignore their advice.

The likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have only just returned to the squad but could be called upon if Liverpool require their services.

"I don't know what to do at this stage," Hodgson said. "I will have to liaise with them and Peter Brukner and make a decision by Tuesday on what sort of team I can put out. I can promise the Liverpool fans we will put out the best possible team, without compromising the future."

New striker Milan Jovanovic, whose Serbia side were knocked out in the group stages in South Africa, is in contention after making his debut against Kaiserslautern. He performed in an unfamiliar role in the friendly defeat but is happy to do so again if Hodgson asks him to.

New Liverpool Signing Milan Jovanovic Willing To Play In Any Position

Liverpool newcomer Milan Jovanovic says he is willing to play in any position for his new club.

The 29-year-old moved to Anfield this summer on a free transfer from Standard Liege, and could make his competitive debut for the club in Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against FK Rabotnicki.

The Serbia international hopes to feature as much as possible for the Reds and would play on the left wing again - as he did in Saturday’s pre-season friendly with Kaiserslautern - if he was asked to by boss Roy Hodgson.

He told the club’s official website: "It doesn't matter which position I play. That is a question for the coach. Of course, I have my own opinion but it won't be a problem if I have to play on the left wing again.

"Maybe with a bit of time and when I know all the small things about playing in that position, then it will help me.

"The main thing at the minute is for me to get the feeling of the team. It's not going to be easy because everything is new and we don't have much time."

Jovanovic was initially given the number 10 shirt after moving to Anfield but switched to number 14 following the arrival of Joe Cole.

"Switching shirts didn't bother me," he said. "Number 14 is my favourite and it is the number I wear for the national team.

"I feel good that I have got the same number here and I hope it will be lucky for me. I hope it will bring me much success. When the switch came I was happy."

The former Standard Liege forward hopes to adjust to life in England as soon as possible and is looking forward to the arrival of his family in Liverpool.

"I expect they will be with me in Liverpool soon," he added. "We have got to choose a house but it will really help when I see them."

Mascherano Set For Talks With Hodgson

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano met up with new manager Roy Hodgson for the first time after returning to pre-season training.

The Argentina captain has been uncontactable since going on holiday after the World Cup but was back at Melwood on schedule along with compatriot Maxi Rodriguez.

Hodgson tried to speak to the 26-year-old, who has been heavily linked with a summer reunion with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan, following the end of the player's involvement in South Africa.

However, the 62-year-old Englishman was only able to leave messages for Mascherano telling him he was looking forward to meeting him back on Merseyside as his calls were not returned.

Hodgson will outline his plans to Mascherano in much the same way as he has already done to senior players Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres in an attempt to persuade him he has a future at Anfield.

But there still remains a nagging doubt that the combative midfielder, who was offered a new contract in the latter stages of last season, has set his sights on a move to the continent.

Neither Mascherano nor Rodriguez will be available for Thursday's Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie against Rabotnicki in Macedonia.

However, Hodgson admits he may have to field a number of his other World Cup stars earlier than he would have liked.

The club's medical staff have warned their manager bringing the likes of Gerrard, Carragher, Glen Johnson, new signing Jole Cole and Daniel Agger back too soon may have dire effects later in the season.

Unfortunately, a largely reserve side has failed to score in two pre-season friendlies and Hodgson admits he may not be able to afford to take the risk of not using senior players.

"I don't know what to do at this stage," he said.

"I will have to liaise with them and (head of sports science) Peter Brukner and make a decision by Tuesday on what sort of team I can put out.

"I can promise the Liverpool fans we will put out the best possible team, without compromising the future.

"It is going to be a difficult discussion between myself and Peter because his feeling is we shouldn't use any of them and I am going to be tempted to say I want to use quite a few of them.

"The only players I will take will be the ones that I definitely think will play a valuable part in the game.

"If we are talking about senior players, it would be players prepared to start the game.

"I would not take Steven Gerrard there to play for the last 10 minutes as a substitute."

One senior player who will be available is midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who sat out Saturday's friendly defeat to Kaiserslautern with a knee problem.

"Peter Brukner told me he ran for the first time on Saturday so I would expect him to be fit for Thursday," added Hodgson.

Manchester City To Break Transfer Record For £70m Fernando Torres

Roberto Mancini is willing to pay a new British record transfer fee to bring Liverpool's Fernando Torres to Manchester City.

Mancini has already been busy in the transfer market during the close season, bringing in Barcelona's Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolorov from Lazio and Germany defender Jerome Boateng to bolster his defensive options.

Meanwhile, David Silva has arrived from Valencia bringing some extra trickery and creativity to the midfield.

However, Mancini still wants to add some more firepower to his squad in order to enhance City's chances of breaking into the top four, with Torres top of the hitlist.

The Italian manager has indicated that he would be willing to pay more than the £32.5 million spent by the Eastlands club on Robinho in 2008 to land the Spaniard, the Guardian reports.

Mancini said: "Torres is one of the best strikers in Europe and is already playing in the Premier League for three years and knows it very well.

"But it depends on his situation - his price and whether he wants to come."

Liverpool value their superstar striker at nearer the £70 million mark, but Mancini has remarked that the club will not be held to ransom despite their hefty spending power and will only pay what they deem to be the "right price".

This attitude also applies of Aston Villa target James Milner, with City thought to be preparing a final bid of £24 million, despite the Midlands club wanting £30 million for the England international.

Meanwhile, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli are other potential targets for City should they fail in their bid to lure Torres from Liverpool.

David Ngog Putting Off Interested Clubs With £2m Salary Demands

Premier League clubs have been put off making a move for Liverpool striker David Ngog due to his excessive wage demands.

The Mirror claims that the 21-year-old is holding out for a move which would see him earn £2 million-a-year - a demand that has made potential suitors Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United look elsewhere.

West Brom manager Roberto di Matteo declared his interest in the striker earlier this month but reportedly had a loan offer for the Frenchman turned down, with Liverpool preferring to offload the striker on a permanent deal.

Ngog, who is believed to be valued at around £6 million by Liverpool, could soon see himself further down the pecking order at Anfield, despite Fernando Torres’ injury problems, if new Reds boss Roy Hodgson can bring in any of his striking targets.

Liverpool Chase PSV & Mexico Defender Carlos Salcido

Experienced PSV defender Carlos Salcido has attracted the interest of Premier League giants Liverpool with his good performances at the World Cup, according to The Daily Mirror.

Liverpool parted company with Fabio Aurelio earlier this summer and Emiliano Insua is set to leave the Reds for Fiorentina in a deal said to be worth around £5 million.

Therefore, manager Roy Hodgson wants to add a new left-back to his squad and the former Fulham boss reportedly considers Mexico's Salcido, who can also cover in the centre of defence, as the perfect addition to his back-line.

Salcido joined PSV from Guadalajara in the summer of 2006 and has since developed into a key player at the Eindhoven side.

The 30-year-old has made 121 Eredivisie appearances for PSV, scoring three goals in the process.

The versatile defender's current contract with runs until the summer of 2012, but the Eredivisie titans are keen to cash in on Salcido this transfer window.

The report suggests he would be available for a cut-price deal worth an initial figure of just £2.5 million (€3m).

That has also alerted other top clubs, though, particularly those without big transfer budgets to spend this summer.

La Liga side Valencia and Serie A runners-up Roma are said to be the Reds' biggest rivals for the player's signature.

Wigan Athletic are also said to be interested, but may find themselves struggling to compete with the appeal of the other three clubs.

Juventus To Ask Liverpool For Daniel Agger As Part Of Christian Poulsen Deal

Juventus want Liverpool's Daniel Agger as part of a player and cash deal that could see Christian Poulsen join the Reds.

Goal.com revealed on Friday how Reds boss Roy Hodgson is keen to move for the midfielder as a replacement for Javier Mascherano, who has been linked with Inter.

And with the unpredicatble transfer market continuing its domino effect, Tuttosport claims Juventus will send Poulsen to Anfield, but only if Liverpool agree to sending Agger the other way.

On Friday the Bianconeri drew a line under the need to strengthen their defence, and Agger fits the bill.

However, the transfer would favour Liverpool as Juventus would have to offer Poulsen plus around €5 million to land the Danish stopper.

The alternative remains Nicolas Burdisso, but Roma are haggling with Inter for the Argentinian who spent last term on loan with Claudio Ranieri's side.

Aly Cissokho has also got the beacon flashing in Turin, but Lyon are likely to demand a high transfer fee after paying €15m for him last year.

Real Madrid Star Confirms: "I Will Soon Be Joining Liverpool"

Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe has reportedly told the Daily Star that he will shortly be joining Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool.

The former Holland Under-21 international has endured an underwhelming spell at the Bernabeu since moving there from Feyenoord in 2007, and according to the Daily Star, he has confirmed that he is all set to join Liverpool in the next few days via his personal Facebook page.

Drenthe was once considered one of the finest young prospects on the continent, but since his move to La Liga, the youngster has found himself increasingly marginalized amongst Madrid’s glut of world class stars and it appears Jose Mourinho has deemed the wing-back surplus to requirements.

The Daily Star quote the Dutchman, saying: “I will soon be joining Liverpool”

“I hope I will have a good season.”

New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has already sold Emiliano Insua having lost the out of contract Fabio Aurelio, and he has also confirmed his intention to sell another defender, Philip Degen.

Rafael van der Vaart Flattered By Interest From Liverpool

Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is eyeing a move to the Premier League with Liverpool.

The 27-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu and the Holland international has been linked with a move away from the club.

And Van der Vaart admitted that he would welcome a move to England in his search of guaranteed first-team football.

"I have heard of the interest from Liverpool - and that is very flattering," van der Vaart told the Daily Star Sunday.

"If Liverpool is willing to offer me first-team football, I will be honest that it would be very hard for me to not listen to what they had to say.

"I think I have the relationship with Madrid where they understand my position and would let me hold talks.

"I expect the majority of transfers to be concluded in the next two weeks, and if Liverpool wanted to talk with me I would at the very least listen to what they have to say.

"Liverpool is a very big club, and if they could offer first-team football it may prove impossible to turn down.

"I wouldn't be willing to play for any clubs in Spain out of respect for Madrid, so in my eyes the only other place to go would be the Premier League.

"It's the only league that competes with the standard of La Liga."

The Netherlands international found himself on the substitutes' bench for the majority of the World Cup, although he was called upon to come on in most games, including the final against Spain.

Roy Hodgson Prepares To Rest Stars For Liverpool's Europa League Test

August is still a week away and Roy Hodgson has yet to oversee his first competitive game at Anfield but, already, Liverpool's new manager is talking darkly of burnout and "unbelievably difficult" challenges ahead.

The first arrives on Thursday in Skopje, the Macedonian capital, at the home of FK Rabotnicki in the first leg of a Europa League qualifier.

"These will be two unbelievably difficult games for us at this stage of the season," says Hodgson, whose sports science and medical staff have urged him not to risk playing a host of established names including Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt and Glen Johnson. All are still recovering from their World Cup adventures (or misadventures) and the fear is that utilizing them now would prompt mid-season burnout.

"It's a lose, lose," says Hodgson, acutely conscious of boardroom pressure to chase silverware. "It will be very difficult without our top players but the sports scientists say if we use them now we'll lose them further down the line."

The teamsheet on Thursday should certainly make interesting reading. And particularly after a very young, highly inexperienced Liverpool lost 1-0 at Kaiserslautern in a friendly only notable for the fact that it was Milan Jovanovic's debut, Hodgson sending the Serbia winger, signed from Standard Liège, on for the second half.

If Thursday will be a big night for Alberto Aquilani – Hodgson has made it clear he expects Rafael Benítez's £17m buy from Roma last summer finally to display his hitherto hidden talents in Skopje – it also represents arguably Rabotnicki's biggest game since September 2007 when they faced Bolton Wanderers in the Uefa Cup. Significantly, playing Sammy Lee's then side earned a club sometimes dubbed "The Romantics" as much money as they usually expect to accrue in an entire year.

Small wonder a Rabotnicki website yesterday proclaimed: "Liverpool will come to Macedonia – one of the world's biggest clubs will play Rabotnicki in a qualifying Europa League tie. And, no, it's not a joke, nor a dream."

Hodgson trusts his arrival at Skopje "Alexander the Great" Airport will not herald a nightmare. If Liverpool must be mindful of Filip Petkovski, Rabotnicki's highly promising 20-year-old striker, at least an ongoing refurbishment of the Philip II Arena – commonly known as the Gradski Stadium – dictates they are unlikely to suffer the same deprivations faced by Bolton.

Three years ago Nicolas Anelka and company raised eyebrows by declining to use the away dressing-room facilities following a 1-1 draw – they scraped a 1-0 win at the Reebok – instead detouring to a nearby hotel before racing to the airport and their return flight to Manchester.

Yet even if the showers are not quite up to Premier League standard, Hodgson will have little compunction about reminding his players that, right now, Liverpool are in no position to be precious.

Fernando Torres Transfer A Possibility, Admits Liverpool's Roy Hodgson

Fernando Torres may be sold by Liverpool this summer after Roy Hodgson admitted there is nothing more he can do to persuade the Spain striker to stay.

Reds fans were heartened to hear reports that talks between Chelsea transfer target Torres and Hodgson had gone well, but the new Anfield boss has now revealed the player has a number of issues with the club.

It is believed the World Cup winner feels that promises Liverpool officials gave him about strengthening the squad in order to challenge for trophies have been broken.

Hodgson told the News of the World his personal relationship with Torres is good, but that he does not know if the 26-year-old will agree to stay at Anfield.

"Unfortunately, I cannot do much more. His beef is with the club and not me," said the ex-Fulham boss.

Hodgson added: "He knows what I would like to do with the club. He knows how much I value him. But his issues are with what has gone on in the past rather than the future."

Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager is reported to be stepping up his efforts to sign a new left-back.

According to the Daily Star Sunday, he is planning to make a £7 million bid for Wigan Athletic's Honduras international Maynor Figueroa.

Should Wigan signal they are ready to listen to offers, Liverpool is likely to face competition from Sunderland for Figueroa's signature.

Dalglish Expects Torres Stay

Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is confident the capture of Joe Cole and retention of captain Steven Gerrard will show Fernando Torres just how serious Roy Hodgson is about moving the Reds forwards.

Hodgson, who took charge at Anfield following the departure of Rafael Benitez, is hoping Torres will follow Gerrard's example and publicly commit himself to the club, but concedes the Spain striker has misgivings.

"When Torres sees that [Cole signing] and talks with Roy I am sure he will give us good news," Dalglish told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek program.

"I hope Torres stays. Only Fernando knows what is going to do.

"Unfortunately for him he is injured, but he is a fantastic player and is very happy around the club and the city.

"The fact that Stevie is staying will be a great help and players like Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Jonjo Shelvey and Danny Wilson means there is buying for the present and the future."

Dalglish added: "Roy is going to stamp his own authority on the club - but it is difficult at the moment because the players are coming back in dribs and drabs after the World Cup and you don't have everyone coming back together."

Liverpool Target £15m Atletico Madrid Star Diego Forlan As Fernando Torres Replacement

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is believed to be lining up Diego Forlan to replace Fernando Torres, amid fears that the Spanish international is ready to walk out of Anfield.

According to The People, the Kop chief is ready to build for the future and has his sights set on bringing the Atletico Madrid star back to the Premier League if his stellar striker decides to move on this summer.

The club's top-brass are said to have contacted Atletico officials in the past few days to check on the availability of the Uruguay star, and were quoted with a valuation of £15 million for the former Manchester United man.

Liverpool will make an official bid for Forlan if Torres departs and Hodgson isn't too optimistic on his chances of keeping his the World Cup 2010 winner following discussions in Spain.

Torres would cost around £50m, despite a disappointing tournament in South Africa, a fee that is most likely to deter any bid from interested clubs such as Chelsea.

However, the upside of Liverpool selling Torres would be that it would swell the club's coffers and provide Hodgson with money to spend on reinforcing the squad.

The former Fulham manager is already looking at other likely targets and has earmarked Ipswich Town's highly-rated young striker Connor Wickham as a possible one for the future.

The 17-year-old has been wooed by various top-flight clubs in the past few weeks, with the Tractor Boys already rejecting an £8.5m bids from Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

Juventus Offer Liverpool Tiago As Javier Mascherano's Replacement

With the prospect of Argentina captain Javier Mascherano moving to Inter Milan, Juventus are looking to offload midfielder Tiago to Liverpool.

26-year-old Mascherano has done little to deflect the rumours linking him with an Anfield exit to reunite with former boss Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan and Liverpool have been unable to pin the midfielder down to signing a new contract.

New Anfield boss Roy Hodgson will speak to Mascherano for the first time this week, but should he be unable to persuade him to remain at Liverpool, Tiago could be an option.

The 29-year-old has fallen out of favour at Juventus, but had a reasonable World Cup with Portugal. The box-to-box midfield engine also has good experience at Lyon, Chelsea and Benfica.

The People reports that Juventus would be willing to sell Tiago to Liverpool for 4.5 million pounds. This would be particularly affordable for Hodgson should the Reds receive a hefty fee for Mascherano as expected.

Mourinho Begs Real To Make £30million Bid For Gerrard

Jose Mourinho is ready to make one last-ditch attempt to sign Steven Gerrard.

The Real Madrid coach is trying to persuade the Bernabeu hierarchy to offer the £30million required to prise the England captain from Liverpool.

Spanish sources indicate that Mourinho is a long way from giving up on the midfielder and his renewed interest is another problem for Roy Hodgson, who admitted that he can do no more to keep striker Fernando Torres.

New boss Hodgson coaxed Gerrard into publicly committing his future to Liverpool last week, but he insists that issues with the debt-laden club are what have prevented Torres following suit.

Liverpool's ability to compete for trophies is at the heart of the problem and that is likely to be highlighted by Javier Mascherano, who is expected to demand a move to Inter Milan this week.

As the club's pre-season tour ended with a 1-0 defeat by Kaiserslautern in Germany, Hodgson is fighting fires that are not of his making. He has walked into the problems left by Rafael Benitez and his sacking, so it is ironic that the Spaniard's most bitter rival in English football should create another headache.

Mourinho, who repeatedly clashed with former Liverpool boss Benitez when he was in charge at Chelsea, has long been an admirer of Gerrard.

The Real Madrid manager's revived interest is almost a repeat of what happened six years ago, when an apparently disenchanted Gerrard looked set for a move to Chelsea.

But the England star decided to stay at Anfield after a discussion with Benitez who took over from Gerard Houllier.

Mourinho has again done nothing to quell speculation linking him with Gerrard, who tops his wish list.

He hopes to show Real president Florentino Perez the value of making Gerrard a notable exception to the Spanish club's normal practice of recruiting younger players.

If successful, it would be devastating to Hodgson, whose three-week reign has been beset by problems.

Gerrard is critical to Liverpool's chances of even moderate success because of the message it would send out if he was sold.

Hodgson would find it virtually impossible to replace the homegrown skipper and his sale would also certainly seal Torres's exit into the bargain.

'I've had a meeting with Fernando but there's not much more I can say,' said the former Fulham manager. 'If he has got problems with the club about things that happened in the past, then it's difficult for me to dismiss that.

'His situation has got nothing to do with me and he made that clear on the phone during the World Cup and when I met him face-to-face.

'I can't do much more than let him know that, like every Liverpool fan, I would like him to stay and would love to work with him.

'It's now for the club to satisfy him in whatever way they need to.'

Managing director Christian Purslow has been in Majorca trying to convince Torres and his representatives that the club did not oversell their ambitions last year when they persuaded him to sign a new deal until 2013.

Hodgson insists the meetings have been 'more positive than negative' but he also admitted that is no indication of the outcome. No wonder Hodgson insisted he had not yet lifted the air of gloom around Anfield last week.

He may have pulled off a coup by signing free agent Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea but having uncertainty surrounding the futures of Torres, Mascherano and Gerrard again puts him on the backfoot.

Liverpool are also short of a recognised left-back three weeks before the start of the Premier League season, so the headache of having to play the season's first competitive game on Thursday is one Hodgson could do without.

Liverpool face a gruelling trip to Macedonia to play FK Rabotnicki in the third qualifying round of the Europa League and potential fatigue is sure to be a worry ahead of the domestic campaign.

Liverpool Face Anxious 48-Hour Wait To See If Lyon Enter Loic Remy Race

Nice striker Loic Remy's bid to play in the Premier League hangs in the balance after his former club Lyon was told they have 48 hours to match any transfer bid, according to The Daily Mail.

Remy is reportedly wanted by Liverpool, West Ham and Arsenal, but Lyon hold a 15 per cent sell on clause for the player and also hold the first chance to match any accepted bid for the striker.

This will also be a blow for West ham chairman David Gold, who flew to France on Thursday to try and secure a deal for Remy.

Remy, who is only 23, has been compared to former Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. He managed to score 15 goals for Nice last season, catching the attention of a number of Europe's top sides.

Match Report: Kaiserslautern 1 - 0 Liverpool

New signing Milan Jovanovic made a 45-minute debut for Liverpool as a largely inexperienced reserve side lost 1-0 to Kaiserslautern in Germany.

The Serbia forward, brought in on a free transfer from Standard Liege, played the first 45 minutes before he was withdrawn by manager Roy Hodgson.

By that time the Reds were behind, courtesy of Ilian Micanski's close-range tap-in.

Jovanovic was one of only two members of the squad who had played at the World Cup, the other being defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos who lasted 77 minutes.

The Greek almost made a perfect return to life in a Liverpool shirt as his second-minute through-ball put David Ngog in on goal but he dragged his shot wide.

Moments later the newly-promoted Bundesliga side replied with Slovakian Adam Nemec having a shot deflected just over.

The 19-year-old Liverpool reserve forward David Amoo then shot straight at Tobias Sippel and Martin Kelly had an effort deflected over from Jovanovic's corner before the hosts made the breakthrough.

In the 32nd minute Jiri Bilkey beat Daniel Ayala to the ball before crossing for Micanski to extravagantly flick home from six yards.

Croatian Ivo Ilecevic's volley went close five minutes before half-time as Kaiserslautern continued to press.

After the break the Germans created a couple of opportunities but Hodgson's youthful side - midfielder Lucas Leiva was the most experienced first-teamer - did not concede again.

Hodgson now prepares to start his competitive Reds career with a Europa League third round qualifier against Macedonians FK Rabotnicki on Thursday without many of his first-team stars.

Hodgson To Defy Medical Advice On World Cup Stars

Roy Hodgson admits he'll have to fight with his medical staff for the right to use his World Cup stars in Liverpool's opening Europa League matches starting next week.

Liverpool begin their competitive season in Macedonia on Thursday - 18 days before their first Premier League game - as they face FK Rabotnicki in the third qualifying round of Europe's second-tier competition.

Hodgson has not yet been able to work with all his players because those that played in the World Cup were granted a later summer break. Players involved in the latter stages in South Africa have not returned to training while England's Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson only got back this week and have missed pre-season camp in Switzerland.

Hodgson has been advised that those players should not be considered for the trip to Skopje but the 62-year-old - who launched Fulham's run to the final at the same stage of the competition last season - wants to find middle ground.

Hodgson told the club's website: "It's a little bit of a fight with them to some extent, in order to try and get them to free up more senior players, because their view is very clear that all of these players who are coming back to Melwood just after the World Cup shouldn't play in either of the two games. My point of view is that I want to go through in the competition and I might need some of these players, so there's a lot of compromise.

"I fully respect their opinion and in an ideal world I wouldn't even for one minute discuss it with them and I would take it at face value. If our first game was on August 15, I'd take it on face value that they don't want me to use these players in any friendly matches, and instead continue working with them and build up their level of fitness. But of course we've got official matches now and that's the difference.''

The return leg against Rabotnicki takes place the following week, on August 5. Liverpool find themselves having to qualify for the Europa League after finishing a disappointing seventh in the Premier League last season.

Hodgson will take a first look at new signing Milan Jovanovic in a friendly against German side Kaiserslautern on Saturday. The Serbia international joined the Reds for training last week following the end of his World Cup break. Greece defender Sotirios Krygiakos is also set to start.

Hodgson said: "They did take part in the World Cup and came back a little later and I think we need to be a bit more careful with them than with some of the younger players. But having said that, I think they can play and they will be happy to play. They will start the game and we'll see how long we can keep them on for.''

Roy Hodgson Issues Challenge To Alberto Aquilani

Roy Hodgson has assured Alberto Aquilani that he still has a golden opportunity to show he can play a successful role in the new Anfield era despite his injury jinx striking again.

The Italian’s first season on Merseyside was a huge anti-climax, with a succession of injuries and two debilitating viruses preventing him from showing his best form.

And frustratingly for Aquilani he has picked up a knock that has required him to leave Liverpool’s Swiss training camp and ruled him out of this afternoon’s friendly with Kaiserslautern in Germany.

Though there were a couple of highlights, namely goals against Atletico Madrid and Portsmouth, Aquilani never engaged top gear last season and some wondered whether Liverpool would offload him.

Hodgson, however, has made it clear that will not be the case and the manager is looking forward to working with Aquilani and coaxing the kind of form out of him that he used to show so regularly for AS Roma.

“There has never been any question about Alberto’s talents,” Hodgson insisted. “It is obvious for all to see that he is a gifted footballer.

“What has been the major disappointment for him is that he arrived here with an injury that took an awfully long time to clear up.

“It was only really towards the end of the season when he started to show anything like the kind of form you would have expected from the outset and that will have frustrated him.

“He has got to use this pre-season to put all those disappointments behind him and get his confidence up but what I have seen during the last three weeks has been encouraging.

“You can see every day he is working hard to improve his fitness. He clearly wants to get back to the levels he was showing before he came here and that is a positive sign.”

As encouraging as that appraisal might be, there is no doubt Aquilani still has to prove he can cope with the physical demands of the Premier League. During the game with FC Grasshopper in Zug, the £17m man seemed to lose confidence for a spell after being on the receiving end of a heavy tackle and eventually faded.

Hodgson, though, has put the performance into perspective, as he revealed Aquilani is trying hard to build himself up and has been encouraged by what he has seen.

“We have to remember that it is going to take some time to get to where we want him,” said Hodgson. “We must not ask too much from him too soon.

“I would rather be putting him on the field and taking him off too early rather than keeping him on five or 10 minutes too long, which would mean he misses a training session in the future.

“We have done a lot of tactical work but most of the work that we have been doing has been with the Australian fitness people. We are really only scratching the surface.

“But in that scratching the surface, Alberto has come out of it very well, as has Lucas, who is really the only person who can say he is a genuine Liverpool regular.”

Riera Joins Olympiakos On Four-Year Deal

Spanish winger Albert Riera completed his move from Liverpool to Olympiakos Pireaus on Friday after passing a medical and signing a four-year contract with the Greek club.

"During the last two years at Liverpool, I didn't win any titles, so that's why I took the decision to come to Olympiakos; to win titles," said the 28-year-old at a news conference.

"I have come to Olympiakos at the right time," added Riera, whose brother, Sito, also plays in Greece for Panionios.

"I hope to help the team become one of the 10 best sides in Europe."

Local media reported the deal would cost 20 million euros ($26 million), with the player earning around 2.7 million euros per season and Liverpool receiving 4 million euros up front and an additional 2 million if Olympiakos win the title this season.

The Spaniard joined Liverpool for 12 million euros two years ago from Espanyol. After a promising start at the club he faded into the first team fringes and was frozen out after criticising previous manager Rafa Benitez.

Marcell Jansen Named As Liverpool's Latest Transfer Target At Left-Back

Liverpool are being linked with versatile German international Marcell Jansen as manager Roy Hodgson continues his search for a new starting left-back.

The 24-year-old has played in several positions during a career that has been solely in the Bundesliga so far, and is employed as a midfielder as much as a defender by current club Hamburg.

But Hodgson, who has extensive connections throughout the central European domestic leagues, is thought to have been tipped off that Jansen would welcome a regular role in defence - and is keen on joining Liverpool.

Jansen's capture could also help to allay the lingering fears of some of the Anfield faithful that there is a distinct lack of quality back-up to Inter Milan-bound defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Hodgson has already been linked with Chelsea's Ashley Cole and former Spurs defender Reto Ziegler as he steps up his search for more left-sided players.

And while Cole is an unrealistic target, it is thought Reds officials have already contacted Sampdoria and Ziegler's own representatives to sound out the possibly of a move.

However, before making any official bids, Hodgson is keen to weigh up a move for Jansen in an attempt to play off the two clubs against each other and getting them to drop their asking prices.

Both players are expected to command fees in the region of £8million, and may use Liverpool's desperate need for a left-back to maximise their value.

Earlier this week, Hodgson admitted the squad is "short" and that finding a starting left-back would be "one of the priorities".

"We need to find a replacement for Emiliano [Insua] and Fabio [Aurelio]. That is one job we will have to do," he added.

City Will Not Consider Selling Bridge To Liverpool

ESPNsoccernet has been told that Wayne Bridge has been assured his future remains at Eastlands despite the imminent arrival of left-back Aleksandr Kolarov and rumoured interest from Liverpool.

City will spend £17 million on Serbian defender Kolarov and the deal has led to speculation linking the 29-year-old Bridge with a move to Liverpool, as new boss Roy Hodgson is on the lookout for a new left back after the departures of Emiliano Insua and Fabio Aurelio.

However, Bridge, who declined to be included in England's World Cup squad because of a well-publicised fall-out with John Terry, naturally has sought clarification about his future with Manchester City and has been told he will not be sold.

''Wayne Bridge has been told by Manchester City that he is not for sale, that the manager wants two players for every position,'' a source told Soccernet. "That's fine by Wayne who is very happy at Manchester City with three years left on his current contract, having been there for one-and-a-half years already.''

Liverpool are still likely to push to sign the experienced defender, who may ultimately grow tired of finding himself in a similar position to the one that drove him out of Chelsea, and the source maintained that a move could yet happen.

''We all know in football that the situation can change,'' he said. ''If Liverpool are serious, and get some money in by selling one of their big stars, they could make an offer for Wayne, and who knows then if the situation changes."

Fiorentina 'On Track' To Sign Emiliano Insua From Liverpool - Sporting Director Pantaleo Corvino

Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino has told the press that the club is "on track" to sign Liverpool left-back Emiliano Insua. Earlier on Friday, it was reported the contract is on the verge of being finalised.

"Insua? There are plenty of negotiations as we continue to achieve our objectives. To definitely close [the deal] takes the signatures of three parties. We are on track," he told mediaset.

"[Midfielder Stafano] Guberti or another external arrival? For us it's already a sacrifice to keep the same squad we had last season in addition to those that have already arrived.

"It's also true that there are still 40 days left in the market and Fiorentina will pay attention to any opportunities that arise."

Meanwhile, Corvino also explained the decision to appoint Sinisa Mihajlovic as tactician following the departure of Cesare Prandelli to lead the Italian national team.

"Mihajlovic was a choice based on the quality of his work. Our group after five years [with Prandelli] needed new motivation and Maihajlovic could bring his natural experience as a winner," he concluded.

Milan Chief Adriano Galliani Insists Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Is Staying At Milan Amid Liverpool Reports

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has echoed Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's agent Arnold Oosterveer, who insists his client will not abscond from the Italian club amid reports Liverpool are working on a loan deal for him.

"Huntelaar? He will stay with us," Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

That response came after Oosterveer said he had not received information from Liverpool or Milan in relation to a transfer.

"There is nothing new on Klaas. For now he will remain with Milan," the agent told Calcionews24.com.

Huntelaar has been tipped to leave Milan after reports in England claimed he was seen in Manchester.

That was followed up by a Liverpool link, with Roy Hodgson reportedly keen on a loan deal.

On Thursday, Italian reports claimed Huntelaar would be used in a swap for Ryan Babel.

Ngog Committed To Reds

David Ngog today spoke of his determination to play a part in ensuring Roy Hodgson's debut season at the Anfield helm is a successful one.

The French striker enjoyed a productive 2009-10 campaign, in which he netted eight goals - a tally he is eager to improve on this time around.

And though the press rumour mill continues to turn, Ngog is fully committed to helping Liverpool challenge for silverware.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I am a Liverpool player. I want to be involved in the first team at Liverpool.

"The club had a difficult season last year, but I want to prove we can get back into the top four. I am confident about this.

"I know speculation is part of football and we have to deal with it. If we bring in new players, it is good for the team.

"My confidence is good. Now I have to do my job and give my best for the team.

"I enjoying playing for the club and they have given me a lot of things. I am more experienced now and I want to be involved, play as many games as I can and score goals to help the team win."

Meanwhile, Ngog believes the arrival of Joe Cole will add an extra dimension to Liverpool's attack in 2010-11.

"It's really good. He is a good player and will help us to be better," he said.

"We lost Yossi, but Joe is a good player to replace him and it's good news for Liverpool.

"He has quality, is very technical, is a quick passer and has good skills too. With his experience at Chelsea, I think he can bring a lot to Liverpool."

Liverpool FC’s Ship Must Set Sail Without Sulks In Tow

Compare and contrast. While Joe Cole spent the first 48 hours of his Liverpool career beaming from ear-to-ear, Albert Riera could be spotted brooding in the background.

Spending time at close quarters with the Liverpool squad that travelled to Switzerland this week presented an opportunity to decipher the dynamics of the group and watch their interaction with new boss Roy Hodgson.

Admittedly, a number of the players who were in Bad Ragaz are going to find it difficult to force their way into Hodgson’s plans and some, like Philipp Degen, have already been told that it would be for the best if they find new clubs.

A dramatic overhaul will take place at Anfield this summer and while it is vital Hodgson brings in the right players – landing Cole on a free transfer could, in time, prove to be a stroke of genius – just as important will be the identity of who gets shipped out.

The exodus, of course, has already begun.

Yossi Benayoun departed before Hodgson arrived but soured the impression some had of him with a needless attack on Rafa Benitez, while Riera will soon follow Emiliano Insua and Fabio Aurelio out of the club.

While there were never any problems with the latter pair, the same could not be said about the temperamental Riera, who made the cardinal sin of publicising problems in the dressing room in March and brought shame on himself when clashing with one of the club’s young players.

Next on Hodgson’s list of things to do is deal with the potential drama that might surround Javier Mascherano; there is no disputing that he is a good player but Liverpool simply cannot afford to have him hanging around sulking if he does not want to be here.

“We would like to make some changes,” said Hodgson, as he chatted about his plans for the future.

“Every manager who comes into a new club wants to bring in new players, players who are fresh and anxious to make as good an impression as he is.

“I didn’t want to run the risk of maybe a player who hasn’t had as many chances as he would like maybe becoming disenchanted again, as that brings the atmosphere down.

"The atmosphere is very important.

"We have to bring a good atmosphere back to the club.

“That will come from training and matches at Anfield.

“We need to get back that Liverpool atmosphere that we have known and I have experienced to my cost over the years.

"We have to get away from the feeling that everything is not right.”

What wasn’t right, however, was the fact Mascherano has apparently not responded to the phone call and text message he received from his new manager; Hodgson stressed it was not a problem, that he did not expect him to ring back, but let’s just examine some basics.

Common courtesy demands you acknowledge when somebody gets in touch with you; manners cost nothing and surely Mascherano has not been so busy that it has been impossible to find the time to speak for two minutes?

If he wants to go to Inter, the move will happen much more smoothly provided he is open and honest with Hodgson and Liverpool’s board; there is no point hiding behind agents or going to ground, as that simply exacerbates problems.

Quite simply, there can be no repeats of the sulking that followed last summer’s aborted move to Barcelona, for if Liverpool are going to push for a Champions League spot once again, they are going to need a united squad.

At times last season, that was not the case and it was only on the road and rail trek to Madrid that you got the sense there was real bonding; indeed, something Mascherano said lifted the lid on how individualistic some can be.

“It was a good trip, we were talking too much together!

You have to take the positives and now I know my team-mates a little bit better,” he said at the time – that coming from a man who had been a Liverpool player for three seasons.

The football season is one, long grind and only the squads who have real unity thrive when the going gets tough; Hodgson, to his credit, is trying to restore some old fashioned values and having a clear out might work a treat.

Hodgson Targets More Signings

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson hopes new signing Danny Wilson is just the first of many young players with "exceptional talent" he will be able to bring to the club.

While the focus, naturally, has been on assessing the strengths of the first team, bringing in players of the quality of Joe Cole and working to secure the commitment of senior players, Hodgson is well aware he has to have one eye on the future.

Wilson fits into the latter category, with the 18-year-old having signed a three-year contract after Liverpool agreed a deal which could be worth up to £5million with Rangers.

Hodgson has been working with a mainly reserve side at the club's Switzerland training camp because of delayed holidays for those players involved at the World Cup and so has seen first hand Liverpool's potential up-and-coming stars.

His first match in charge last night saw a team with only three first-team regulars - Lucas Leiva, Alberto Aquilani and David Ngog - draw 0-0 with Grasshoppers.

"In tandem with what we're doing with the first team, we've got to have our eyes and ears alert to any young talent that could be future stars," said the Reds boss.

"The earlier we get them into the club the better. Against Grasshoppers we saw young players like Nathan Eccleston and David Amoo, young players who showed they've got exceptional talent.

"We need more players of that type of quality. Danny Wilson is certainly one and I'm very pleased we've brought him into the club."

Liverpool's Attack Rivals Barcelona - Robben

Arjen Robben says that Liverpool's acquisition of Joe Cole puts their attack on the same level as Spanish champions Barcelona and claims Chelsea made a huge mistake in letting the midfielder go.

Robben, who played at Stamford Bridge for three years from 2004, has high praise for Roy Hodgson's men and says Cole will flourish in his new surroundings.

"With a front three of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Cole I think Liverpool will be a real force in the Premier League,'' Robben told the Daily Star. "Last year was a freak year, but if those three click I can see them seriously challenging for the title.

"You look at those as a front three and you struggle to find a better front three in Europe - and I include Barcelona's in that."

Given Barcelona's frontline currently consists of Lionel Messi, David Villa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, some may disagree, but Robben rates Cole as one of the best players in the world and thinks he can make a difference at Anfield.

"I read Gerrard's words about Joe being as good as Messi on the ball and I couldn't agree more,'' he said. ''After training with him for so long I can tell you some of the things he can do with a football are as good as anything I have ever seen.

"If Joe is now played in a more central position he will score and create a lot of goals, I see him as a real runner for player of the season. He is not just about tricks, though his vision is fantastic. The chances he will create for Torres will help Liverpool to have a trophy-winning season."

The Dutch winger also claims Cole's motive for moving was not the £90,000-a-week contract he signed with Liverpool and says Chelsea will be kicking themselves that they allowed him to walk away on a free.

"I think it was a big mistake of Chelsea's letting Joe go, and I am sure the fans feel the same way. At 28 even with his injuries Joe must still be a £15 million-pound player in the current market,'' he added. "I am sure Chelsea didn't want to sell him, he has already come out and said there are political reasons behind the move and I am sure we will hear more on that when he is ready.

"He loved London, he loved the Chelsea fans, and he loved the club so something must have really upset him for him to reject Chelsea's offer. I know Joe and the decision would have definitely been a footballing one and not a money one."