Tag Archives: Hodgson

Hodgson keeps up with the Jones

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Roy Hodgson has bolstered his Liverpool side (12/1 Premier League Outright) with the £2.3million signing of Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Jones, who qualifies as a ‘home-grown’ player under the new league rules.

The Reds boss has drafted the 28-year-old Australia international into his Anfield squad to provide cover for number one Jose Reina for this campaign.

Jones, who has made 75 first-team appearances for Boro and spent time on loan at Blackpool, Rotherham, Stockport and Sheffield Wednesday, qualifies as a home-grown player as the Teessiders signed him from Australian amateur side Bayswater City.

Jones signed for the Reds on a three-year deal on Tuesday after the two clubs agreed a fee and he passed a medical with the Merseyside giants on Monday evening. But, despite his arrival, Hodgson is unlikely to pitch him into the side to face Manchester City in the Premier League next Monday.

Reina remains his number one, despite his bizarre own goal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal, as the former Fulham boss looks to bring silverware to the club in his first season (Liverpool 2/1 To Win A Major Trophy).

Following the match Hodgson said: “Pepe Reina is very disappointed. I thought he did very well as he’s struggled with a shoulder injury.”

Meanwhile, Hodgson is hopeful that Javier Mascherano will stay at Anfield, despite confirming that he will sell the Argentine midfielder if a good offer is made for his services.

On Mascherano, who has been linked with a move to Italian giants Inter Milan (Evens Serie A Outright) to be reunited with former Reds boss Rafael benitez, Hodgson said: “As yet we haven’t had any offers. There’s two weeks to go in the transfer window and some of these clubs for some reason like to come in with offers on the 28th or 29th of August.

“But we want to keep him here and we will keep him here unless an offer comes along that is correct – one that is commensurate with his value and one where we would think it would be wrong to turn down because we’ve said to him if that offer comes in we’ll accept it.

“At the moment it’s not there, it’s not even on the horizon. If all these clubs are interested it would be nice if they contacted Liverpool one day.”

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Hodgson – Torres could face Gunners

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Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has revealed star striker Fernando Torres could yet be fit to play against Arsenal on Sunday as the Reds aim to kick off their season with an important win at Anfield (Liverpool 11/8, Arsenal 9/5, Draw 23/10 – match betting).

Spain international Torres has been carrying an abductor injury he sustained in the World Cup final and has only just made a return to training ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

However, despite a summer of disruption caused by injury and speculation that he would leave the club, Torres could feature against the Gunners.

He committed his future to Hodgson’s side a few weeks ago and will hope to have an injury-free campaign to help Liverpool get back amongst the top four and into the Champions League.

When asked if Torres could play on Sunday, Hodgson said: “Yes, there’s a chance he could play. He’s made a remarkable effort to get himself fit and ready for Premiership football.

“He’s worked extremely hard in the two and a half weeks he’s been back. I haven’t ruled him out but I haven’t ruled him in either.

“His chances were rightly being played down by the sports science people. They said, quite rightly, that in an ideal world he’d have a longer preparation period.

“It’s quite simply a balancing job. Do we take the risk of putting him in early or do we hold him back and put him through a more strenuous pre-season programme?”

He added: “The player’s feelings also have to be taken into account, so it’s a delicate mixture. But the bottom line is yes, he could be considered for Sunday.”

Liverpool follow up their season-opener against Arsenal with a home Europa League play-off first leg clash against Turkish side Trabzonspor on Thursday (Reds 9/1 to win the Europa League outright).

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Hodgson hails Torres

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World Cup bettingNewly appointed Liverpool (12/1 to win the Premier League) boss Roy Hodgson has praised his star striker Fernando Torres for deciding to stay at the club this season.

Throughout the summer there has been speculation linking the 26-year-old with a move away from Anfield to Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City.

However on Tuesday the Spanish World Cup winner returned from a three-week holiday and stated that he was happy to stay at the Merseyside club.

Hodgson’s first task when he left Fulham was to make sure Liverpool (7/4 to finish in the top four)  kept their key players with Torres, Steven Gerrard and Javier Masherano all being linked with moves to other clubs.

Skipper Gerrard was the first to commit his future to the club this summer and now that Torres has done likewise the new manager is pleased that he can now look to build the squad for next season.

He said: “It’s nice  that the speculation can finally end and even better that Fernando gave an interview yesterday in which he spoke about how committed he is and how keen he is to have a good season with the club.

“He has only been back a couple of days and he needs to do a lot of work to make certain he recovers from his holiday of three weeks and also, of course, the injury he picked up towards the end of the World Cup,? he added.

Hodgson hopes that the striker will be ready for Liverpool’s opening game of the Premier League season when they take on Arsenal at Anfield on August 15.

The former Blackburn manager looks likely to be without Argentina midfielder Masherano as he expects the player to leave Anfield this summer, possibly to follow former manager Rafa Benitez to Inter Milan.

The holding midfielder is estimated to be worth £25m and if sold could help ease the club’s financial issues which could set to be dealt with.

A number of parties are closing in on buying Liverpool with Chinese tycoon Kenny Huang and a consortium made up of Arabian and Canadian businessmen in the running.

Current co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have been looking to sell the club for some time and a deal with one of the parties who wish to buy the club could come in the next couple of weeks before the Premier League season kicks-off.

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Hodgson set for transfer boost

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Kenny HuangThe possible sale of Liverpool FC has returned to dominate the back pages in the last few days amid reports that Chinese tycoon Kenny Huang is now in talks with the Royal Bank of Scotland over taking control of the Anfield side (Liverpool 7/4 to secure a top four finish).

The Times claims Huang is eager to secure a deal for the club before the transfer window closes, at 1700 BST on September 1.

American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett are the current owners of Liverpool but the pair are desperate to sell. They put the club up for sale in April, after three years in charge at Anfield.

Reports claim that sources close to Huang have said he is eager to seal a deal as quickly as possible so boss Roy Hodgson can be given additional funds to bring in new players.

“He wants to get it done quickly so investment can come this summer,” a source close to his proposed bid is quoted as saying. “Liverpool need investment in the playing squad and infrastructure, and Huang wants to build the (new) stadium. The club has an outstanding reputation but does not have the infrastructure to keep with it and make it grow.”

Hodgson has already signed free-agent Joe Cole after the England international’s contract at Chelsea came to an end, defender Danny Wilson from Rangers, Milan Jovanovic from Standard Liege and promising youngster Jonjo Shelvey from Charlton Athletic, as well as re-signing left-back Fabio Aurelio. However, the former Fulham boss is still on the lookout for new faces.

Liverpool are also desperately trying to convince Fernando Torres to remain at Anfield, with Chelsea and Manchester City both interested in the Spanish star, and if Huang manages to strike a deal for the club, he will do everything he can to ensure the star striker sticks with Hodgson’s side.

However, Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton has revealed that several bids have been made for the club, although Huang is thought to be the front-runner in the race to sign the Premier League outfit.

“Any bids that go straight to RBS – and there have been several – come to me and are directed to Barcap,” Broughton said. “RBS are not involved. The control remains with the board.”

Liverpool face Arsenal in their opening Premier League fixture on August 15, and although Hicks and Gillett may still be the owners when the season starts, it seems certain that their tenure will not last much longer (Liverpool 5/4, draw 23/10, Arsenal 7/4).

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Hodgson turns to young guns

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Roy Hodgson is set to rely on his youngsters as Liverpool get their Europa League campaign underway on Thursday with a third qualifying round first-leg clash against Macedonian outfit FK Rabotnicki (Liverpool 2/9, Rabotnicki 9/1, draw 4/1 – 90 Minutes) in Skopje.

The former Fulham boss, who took charge at Anfield earlier this month, has opted not to risk the majority of the Reds’ senior players in what is his first competitive game in charge of the club.

Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Lucas, David Ngog and new recruit Milan Jovanovic are the only experienced players who could be on show.

However, England quartet Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson have not travelled, despite returning to training since last week.

Javier Mascherano and Maxi Rodriguez only came back this week while Fernando Torres, Jose Reina, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are still on holiday following their World Cup exploits.

So Diego Cavalieri, Martin Kelly, Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing are all set to feature against Rabotnicki and will be charged with keeping Liverpool’s Europa League bid (11/1 Outright) on track.

The likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Nathan Eccleston, Peter Gulacsi, David Amoo, Lauri Dalla Valle and Tom Ince have also travelled to Macedonia and could play a part.

Hodgson said: “It is not sink or swim – it would be very harsh to write off a player’s chances of becoming a good player on the evidence of a game.

“I think it is more an opportunity to swim than to fear for them sinking.

“But we are obliged to put our European fate into the hands of many inexperienced players.

“We can only hope that, because they have got talent, they will come through these ties against an experienced and well-versed team in European football like Rabotnicki.”

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Hodgson confirms Masch wants out

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Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed Argentina international Javier Mascherano is keen to leave Anfield, but insists striker Fernando Torres is happy to stay (Liverpool 7/4 Premier League top four finish).

The tough-tackling midfielder has been linked with a summer move away from Liverpool for some time and now Hodgson has revealed the player has expressed his desire to move on.

“Yes he wants to leave the club. He’s made that perfectly clear,” said Hodgson.

“I think he wanted to leave a year ago. He wants to leave now as well.”

Italian giants and European champions Inter Milan have been linked with a swoop for the 26-year-old, where he would link up with former boss Rafael Benitez.

However, despite Mascherano’s desire to leave Anfield, Hodgson refused to rule out the possibility that the Argentinean will stay and is adamant the club will make the final decision.

He added: “The mere fact that the player is a little bit unhappy with his situation and will prefer to leave doesn’t necessarily mean he will leave.

“Yes, it disappoints me, but it’s not unusual. I think in every football club through the Premier League and all throughout the world there will be players playing in a team that would prefer to leave.

“Some are allowed to, some are not allowed to. So that’s the situation with Mascherano.”

Mascherano still has two years left on his current contract at Anfield and Liverpool will not allow the midfielder to leave on the cheap.

There has also been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of striker Fernando Torres.  The former Atletico Madrid man is a known target of Manchester City, with boss Roberto Mancini confirming his interest earlier in the week, and it is thought current champions Chelsea are also chasing the Spanish star.

Hodgson is desperate to retain the services of the talented striker and the former Fulham boss believes Torres is happy to remain a Liverpool player (Liverpool 12/1 to win the Premier League).

“He’s spending a lot of time with his family. As far as I know he’s keeping a very low profile and not really speaking to anybody. But he has told us that he’s looking forward to Monday and getting back to work,” said Hodgson on Torres.

“He’s looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season. That’s what I know and I would suggest that any other reports are erroneous.”

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Hodgson admits Torres doubts

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Fernando TorresLiverpool’s chances of keeping Fernando Torres on board for next season’s title push (12/1 to win Premier League) are hanging by a thread after Roy Hodgson admitted the striker is looking to leave Anfield.

Hodgson may have signed Joe Cole and convinced Steven Gerrard to stay but his attempts to talk Torres around appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

The new Reds boss has been talking to Torres ever since taking charge but it looks as though the player’s mind is already made up and he wants to quit Anfield.

The most frustrating thing for Hodgson is the fact Torres’ problems stem from matters that have gone on in the past and there is nothing more he can do to convince him to stay.

Hodgson would not divulge too much and say whether Torres is angry with the American owners, former boss Rafa Benitez or any other Liverpool official, but he is obviously unhappy with the club and that could spell the end of his time at Liverpool.

“Unfortunately, I cannot do much more,” Hodgson revealed. “His beef is with the club and not me.

“Fernando’s situation has nothing to do with me, he made that perfectly clear over the phone during the World Cup and when I met him face-to-face.

“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.

“If he has problems with the club for things in the past, it is difficult for me to dismiss that.”

Hodgson’s comments are sure to alert Manchester City and Chelsea who are both interested in the striker and have the cash needed to prize him away from Anfield.

Torres is 11/2 to top the Premier League goalscoring charts next season but there is every chance he could be banging in the goals for either City or Chelsea.

Hodgson will still hold out some hope of keeping the player, who is under contract, but if Torres has made his mind up then there will be little the club can do.

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Hodgson ponders Europa options

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New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has hinted that a top-four finish in the Premier League could be more important than a run in the Europa League this season (Reds 7/4 – Top 4 Finish 2010/11).

The Reds will not be dining at the top table of European football for at least 12 months after coming seventh last term at the end of a campaign that eventually saw the departure of Rafa Benitez.

And while the Spaniard will be in the Champions League again now he has re-surfaced at Inter Milan, the club he has left behind is languishing in the second tier in Europe, something loyal Reds fans hope will prove to be only a temporary setback.

With that in mind, Hodgson, who impressed last season by taking Fulham all the way to the final of the Europa League, has appeared to suggest something must give as he bids to lead Liverpool – the five-times champions of Europe – back to the promised land (Reds 9/1 – Premier League 2010/11 Outright).

As far as the here and now is concerned, Liverpool will face FK Rabotnicki of Macedonia in the third qualifying round of the Europa League following their win over two legs against Mika, but Hodgson admits progression cannot simply be taken for granted.

“I worry a lot about not having enough players for next week,” the popular Croydon-born coach revealed in the Daily Mail in reference to the trip to Skopje for the first leg next Thursday.

“These will be two unbelievably difficult games at this stage of the season but it depends where we put the Europa League in the grand scheme of things.

“The sports scientists tell me it would be wrong if I use the World Cup players this early, if we want to use them throughout the season.

“But if we don’t throw them in, then we don’t have the players with experience to play these games, so it is a cleft stick.

“It is a balance that I cannot sort out on my own. It will be a decision for the club to take on.

“Where in the list of priorities does the Europa League come.”

Red winger Albert Riera is set to move to Greek giants Olympiacos by the weekend after receiving a hero’s welcome on Thursday on his arrival in Greece.

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Hodgson talks up Liverpool

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Roy Hodgson believes this week’s capture of Joe Cole and the confirmation that Steven Gerrard will stay at Anfield means Liverpool (7/4 – top-4 finish) will be stronger than last season.

With most onlookers impressed with the free transfer capture of Cole, Reds fans breathed a huge sigh of relief when skipper Gerrard then pledged his future to the club.

Hodgson is certainly upbeat about the season ahead after securing the services of the England pair, with the transfer work not yet complete.

The former Inter Milan boss admitted: “It will be a tough season with a lot of matches and the disappointment of last season is going to take a while to dissipate. But it is very good that our best player is still going to be playing at this club.

“It’s a great piece of news and fingers crossed the speculation about Steven will go away. It gives everyone a boost without question.”

Hodgson believes that Liverpool (12/1 to win the 2010-11 Premier League) will start the season with a stronger group of players than when when Rafa Benitez ended his spell in charge at Anfield.

The manager added: “Hopefully with the signing of Joe Cole – and if we are lucky one or two others to boost the squad – we will be going into this season’s competition maybe stronger on paper than we were last season.”

It looks like one of those further new captures will be the Rangers youngster Danny Wilson, who is on the brink of a move to Merseyside.

The SPL champions have agreed a three-year deal in principle with Liverpool over the sale of the teenage defender.

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain claims the Glasgow club will receive £2m for the centre back, rising to £5m with add-ons linked to games played for the Reds.

The 18-year-old, who turned down an offer to remain at Ibrox, is understood to be undergoing a medical will the prospect of sealing a switch this week.

Hodgson also remains upbeat over the future and fitness of Fernando Torres (11/2 to be Premier League top goalscorer), who continues to be linked with a summer move.

The Spaniard is still on holiday following Spain’s World Cup success but Hodgson has spoken to the striker, who suffered a groin injury when coming on as a substitute in the final against the Netherlands.

The Liverpool boss revealed: “I met Torres last Wednesday in Ibiza, albeit briefly. He told me the groin problem was not anything to worry about, it was something which would clear up with rest on holiday.”

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Hodgson digs in over duo

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Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has issued a firm ‘hands-off’ warning over star striker Fernando Torres who has been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona (Reds 9/1 – 2010 Premier League Outright).

The Spain World Cup winner, who suffered a thigh problem during the final win over Holland which could see him miss the start of the Premier League season, is currently on holiday.

But Hodgson has already met with the 26-year-old former Atletico Madrid star, as he has with England midfielder Steven Gerrard.

And the former Fulham chief insists neither is up for sale as he bids to lead the Reds back into the top four during the forthcoming season.

Hodgson said: “As far as we are concerned he is a Liverpool player and we want him to remain a Liverpool player.

“He is not for sale and we don’t welcome any offers for him. We want to keep him.

“We spoke about football, the World Cup, his injury, and I told him how much I am looking forward to working with him.”

Hodgson also says he has held “positive” talks with Gerrard who has spent his entire career with the Anfield outfit.

“We are in a situation where we hear our players are being courted by other teams but it is all just rumours,” Hodgson added.

“What we haven’t had is a club wanting to buy Steven Gerrard. Steven Gerrard is not for sale – I made that clear to him.”

One player who looks set to move on imminently is left-back Emiliano Insua who is in talks with Italian side Fiorentina over a £5m switch.

Meanwhile, Hodgson admits he has been unable to touch base with Argentina captain Javier Mascherano who is believed to have returned home following the World Cup.

Hodgson revealed at the club?s Swiss training camp: “I have tried to contact Javier. I have left him voice messages and sent him texts but had no reply.

“To be fair to him, that’s not unusual because he’s had a tough World Cup and I believe he’s gone back to Argentina.

“It’s not always easy to get in touch with people. I have tried to reach him to make clear I am happy to talk with him at his convenience.”

Liverpool kick off the Premier League season with a home clash against Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal (8/1 – Opening Day Fixtures – Game With Most Goals).

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