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Hodgson outlines Liverpool plans

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New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has targeted signing English players and could make a bid for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young as he looks to revive the Reds’ fortunes next season (Liverpool 8/1 to win the Premier League next season).

Hodgson was officially unveiled as Rafa Benitez’s successor at Anfield on Thursday and the former Fulham boss has already drawn up a shortlist of players he wants to sign over the summer – with a focus on attracting home-born players in line with new UEFA rules that say Premier League clubs must have at least eight ‘homegrown’ players in their squads from August.

“We would be foolish not to be aware of the importance of homegrown players with the way UEFA and Premier League rules are going,” Hodgson said.

“Otherwise we’re going to struggle to get our squad numbers together.

“I think the club have been trying to do that already with younger players like Jonjo Shelvey and Raheem Sterling but it takes time for them to come through so we might have to go into the transfer market.”

Reports suggest Villa winger Young is among the Liverpool manager’s first targets and Hodgson believes he could land the England international for around £6million.

Meanwhile, Hodgson has admitted his style of football was inspired by the great Liverpool teams of the 1970’s and 80’s and he hopes to reproduce it at Anfield with a team of his own as soon as possible.

“All the things I’ve always liked are the things Liverpool were famous for in their heyday,” he added on the club’s website.

“Pass and move, always move it quickly and once you lose it get back in to position. That was the mantra which took Liverpool through their great years.

“I like a high-tempo passing game. I like players to work hard, I like players to get back in position. Those are my priniciples.

“I was influenced by the Liverpool team which dominated the 70s with all its great players and playing the football they played.”

Hodgson’s first competitive game in charge of the Reds will be a Europa League qualifier at the end of the month before they kick off their Premier League campaign with a tough opener at home to Arsenal (Liverpool 5/4 to win).

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Pokou plans World Cup glory

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Former Ivory Coast striker Laurent Pokou has called on Africa’s top players to produce their best form in South Africa to give the continent the best chance of success at the World Cup (Ivory Coast – World Cup 2010 Specials).

Pokou, 62, who played for the Ivory Coast for 10 years, is regarded as one of Africa’s all-time best forwards.

And he desperately wants the African players in the World Cup to replicate their club form on the big stage (6/5 Ivory Coast – Top African Team – World Cup 2010).

Until 2008, Pokou was the all-time leading scorer at the African Nations Cup – but his 14-goal tally was overtaken by Samuel Eto’o.

Pokou challenged the likes of countryman Didier Drogba and Cameroon’s forward Eto’o, both of whom will be at this summer’s World Cup finals, to show the form they have for Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively.

“Comparing is not the best way and times have changed,” he told www.cafonline.com. “Today the game is a more scientific and technical game and there is more creativity.

“That is what makes the difference we are talking about. But that does not mean that players should not replicate their club performances with their national teams.

“We saw what he (Eto’o) did with Barcelona and today at Inter.

“Drogba is also doing great with Chelsea. In London, just like in Marseille, he has been exceptional.

“All these performances must be replicated with their national teams.”

The World Cup betting suggests both Ivory Coast and Cameroon are in with a chance of progressing from their groups.

Pokou, who starred in France with both Rennes and Nancy, would like to see more resources put into the local game.

“I think African football has contributed a great deal to the global game,” he continued.

“If you look at European football, there is at least one African in every club. African football is like the bread basket of world football.

“In spite of these there is still the acute lack of infrastructure and those who manage the game should be able to provide the necessary infrastructure so that children could benefit.”

And Pokou called on the African football family to unite in a bid to take the game forward.

He added: “It is not the players who are lacking but we need to do more. It does not suffice to criticise. That is why the managers, federations, players and even journalists have a responsibility to make things work.”

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