[size=11pt]Hodgson: Squad "stronger than I realised"[/size]
By ESPN staff
Roy Hodgson has revealed he does not intend to sell one player in the January transfer window, claiming his Liverpool squad is "stronger than I realised".
Hodgson has also hinted that he will only bring in "one or two" new faces when he gets his first chance to spend the new owners' money. The Liverpool boss had spoken disparagingly of the squad he inherited from Rafael Benitez during the Reds' woeful start to the season. However, 13 points from a possible 18 in his last six league games has brightened the mood of the former Fulham manager.
"I have a very clear picture now of what we should and need to be doing and the squad is stronger and getting stronger," said Hodgson, who welcomes Joe Cole and Fabio Aurelio back from injury ahead of Sunday's clash with Tottenham.
"It was probably stronger than I realised at certain stages in the early part of the season when we were losing games. Hopefully that will mean we won't need to do too much in the January transfer window because it might be nice if we can keep all of these players fit and well and add the odd player or two who can help us.
"I have a lot of faith in the players who are playing at the moment because in the last two or three weeks we have put in some good performances."
The likes of Ryan Babel, Maxi Rodriguez, David N'Gog and Lucas Leiva have all been linked with departures from Anfield through the first third of the season, but Hodgson intends to retain his full roster.
"I don't know what is going to happen in the transfer window," he said. "We are doing a lot of work, covering a lot of matches and looking at a lot of players. We are trying to arm ourselves as much as possible with information.
"It is the work in progress which every club has to do - constantly monitoring players and what is out there, what might be useful for you because you never know what is around the corner. When push comes to shove in January none of us know as yet what transfer funds can be made available and we have no idea if there will be any guarantee the people we are watching will be available.
"I would like to continue with this squad of players until the end of the season because I have no ambitions or desires to move anyone. But on the other hand I can't give a stone certain guarantee that there won't be players moving in January, and if so we would need to know where to go for their replacements."
By ESPN staff
Roy Hodgson has revealed he does not intend to sell one player in the January transfer window, claiming his Liverpool squad is "stronger than I realised".
Hodgson has also hinted that he will only bring in "one or two" new faces when he gets his first chance to spend the new owners' money. The Liverpool boss had spoken disparagingly of the squad he inherited from Rafael Benitez during the Reds' woeful start to the season. However, 13 points from a possible 18 in his last six league games has brightened the mood of the former Fulham manager.
"I have a very clear picture now of what we should and need to be doing and the squad is stronger and getting stronger," said Hodgson, who welcomes Joe Cole and Fabio Aurelio back from injury ahead of Sunday's clash with Tottenham.
"It was probably stronger than I realised at certain stages in the early part of the season when we were losing games. Hopefully that will mean we won't need to do too much in the January transfer window because it might be nice if we can keep all of these players fit and well and add the odd player or two who can help us.
"I have a lot of faith in the players who are playing at the moment because in the last two or three weeks we have put in some good performances."
The likes of Ryan Babel, Maxi Rodriguez, David N'Gog and Lucas Leiva have all been linked with departures from Anfield through the first third of the season, but Hodgson intends to retain his full roster.
"I don't know what is going to happen in the transfer window," he said. "We are doing a lot of work, covering a lot of matches and looking at a lot of players. We are trying to arm ourselves as much as possible with information.
"It is the work in progress which every club has to do - constantly monitoring players and what is out there, what might be useful for you because you never know what is around the corner. When push comes to shove in January none of us know as yet what transfer funds can be made available and we have no idea if there will be any guarantee the people we are watching will be available.
"I would like to continue with this squad of players until the end of the season because I have no ambitions or desires to move anyone. But on the other hand I can't give a stone certain guarantee that there won't be players moving in January, and if so we would need to know where to go for their replacements."
