by The Times

Roy Hodgson is still in pole position to succeed Rafael Benítez at Liverpool, despite Manuel Pellegrini emerging as a possible candidate for the vacant manager’s job at Anfield.

Pellegrini, recently replaced at Real Madrid by José Mourinho, was reported to have held talks with Kenny Dalglish at Heathrow yesterday and although sources close to the Chilean coach insisted that there has been no direct contact with Liverpool, it is understood that his suitability has been discussed by the Anfield hierarchy.

Liverpool are continuing to put a shortlist together and Dalglish, despite being deputised to aid the process, could still feature on it. However, Hodgson remains the prime target of the Liverpool board.

The Fulham manager insists that he remains in the dark about his future. “I don’t know,” he said when asked whether a move to Liverpool was in the pipeline. “I’m happy at Fulham. I can’t enlighten you.”

The continuing uncertainty at Liverpool has caused Pepe Reina to express sharp concern that the club face further regression next season if either Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard is allowed to depart this summer, with the goalkeeper repeating his call for Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the co-owners, to sell up at the earliest opportunity.

“It’s been two weeks since Rafa left and it’s one of those things,” Reina said. “Football is football and I always say the same thing — Liverpool will remain forever, which is the most important thing.

“But of course there is concern about Fernando and Stevie. Not just them, but others too. We are all in the same boat and we need to redecorate the boat — we want to be a lot stronger, more consistent and create and build a proper squad to be contenders for the title once again. Any team would count on the likes of Stevie and Fernando as big names. Without them, it will be really tough to be up there at the top. So fingers crossed. Once we sort the situation out with the manager and the owners, which we hope is soon, hopefully we can focus on building a squad.”

As well as coming under pressure from the club’s popular goalkeeper, Hicks and Gillett are the subject of parliamentary discussion after Steve Rotheram, the recently returned MP for Liverpool Walton, used his maiden House of Commons speech to accuse the American duo of “asset stripping” Liverpool, who are in his constituency.

“England’s most successful football club is slowly being drained by the greed of two American asset strippers and this is having a negative impact on regeneration projects for the whole area,” Rotheram, a former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, said.

“Unfortunately the beautiful game does not always attract those with beautiful intentions.”