Hodgson - That's more like Torres

Fernando Torres almost caused a second minute upset against Sunderland at Anfield last Saturday when latched onto a free kick from Steven Gerrard, bringing the ball under control with his chest, and volleying the ball over Mignolet's despairing hands into the back of the net. Unluckily, the goal was disallowed for offside, even though it could only have been by a big toe.

Asked about this incident in an incident-ridden match, Hodgson said: "The Fernando Torres you saw today was much, much different to the Fernando Torres you saw in the opening couple of games. People wanted to see the very best of him from the moment he stepped back on the field after the World Cup but the point is he needs time, he needs games. He was very unlucky with the disallowed goal because that would have been one of the goals of the month with that magnificent chest control and volley."

This is still encouraging news for expectant Liverpool fans, who wanted to see this kind of performance from the get-go this season. Could Torres really be starting to get that engine going again? Are we about to see him explode back onto the scene with some of his trademark skill and blinding goals?

The Blackpool manager, Ian Holloway has been quoted as warning that: "Blackpool are gunning for Liverpool". This seems almost like he is laying the gauntlet at Liverpool's feet. This could be unwise after watching Torres dismantle the Sunderland defence to smash home a great goal and remind the fans what he is capable of.

Maybe Torres is gunning for Blackpool Mr Holloway. There's a warning for you.

Liverpool Early Exit Highlights a Need For Change

Northampton fans will be singing and dancing all over the city for the next decade it seems, after shockingly dumping Liverpool FC out of the Carling Cup in the third round. It's a game that will live in the memories of the Cobblers for a long, long time to come, and will most certainly be a story told to grandchildren in front of a roaring fire.

However, footballing life goes on and Liverpool must now go about the task of reshaping and restructuring a new look squad, that so far hasn't really gelled, save for the game against Steua Bucharest, in which Liverpool hammered four in.

One big win against a Europa side however, simply isn't enough for the cup-hungry Anfield faithful. Already there are mutters of dissent over Rafael Benitez's departure and the appointment of his successor, Roy Hodgson.

Several comments were observed around Liverpool Forums during the Northampton game to the tune of: "hodgson won't last ten minutes" and "Should have given the job to King Kenny". Given Liverpool's poor start this season, such sentiment is almost understandable, however it is perhaps a little early to be judging a man who isn't used to dining at the top tables in Europe.

One thing is clear though, a change is needed, and a drastic one at that. Simply sitting 10 men behind a ball and playing cagey counter attacking football will no longer work in the top flight, as clubs spend more and more on outrageously overpriced players. The premiership has changed drastically over the last 5 years, with more mid-table teams than ever jostling for a place in Europe.

Money won't always be the deciding factor. Eventually, every club in the Premiership will have a foreign investor, and the likes of Chelsea and Man City will be averagely wealthy in the grand scheme of things.

In an exclusive interview with LFC TV, the club'f official TV channel, Christian Purslow confirmed that once Liverpool were eventually bought out, they would in fact be the most profitable club in the Premiership. He also said that current profits were being used to service debts loaded onto the club by it's American owners, and that he worked every single day towards one goal: ploughing those profits back into the pitch, the players and the facilities.

However rich a club is though, it needs a special person at the helm to make a difference, or indeed a very patient one who doesn't mind occasionally being used as a scapegoat. Avram Grant was a victim of such at Chelsea having lasted only a season before being sacked for failing to achieve the results desired by it's billionaire owner.

And so we swing back to Liverpool. If Liverpool are sold and are suddenly as cash rich as any other top flight club, will Roy be the man to take them forward? Or will he also face the axe (a 'la Rafa or Grant) for one bad season?

Or is Roy capable, or more more to the point, confident enough to ring the changes at Anfield and actually take some risks?

Roy Hodgson - The Carling Cup Does Matter

Roy Hodgson has today revealed that he feels the Carling Cup is important to the club, with many supporters feeling that he wouldn't view the competition as a priority, while he also admits he will rest his star players.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the visit of Northampton Town on Wednesday, he said:

"It's a strange game for us in a sense.

"It's one where we definitely need to rotate the squad having played so many games, and with us having to play so many more before the international break.

"But on the other hand it's a competition I take very seriously and I want to have a good run in the competition. We are bothered.

"There's a responsibility on those who replace the big-name players like Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher to name but four."

This should send out a great message of faith to the fringe players like Brad Jones, Suso, Shelvey etc, while he also added:

"To be fair they've shown themselves capable of taking on that burden in a couple of European matches already.

"As we saw in the last game against Steaua Bucharest, Jay Spearing was arguably one of the best players on the field.

"If you never give him a chance, how do you know that?"