Roy Hodgson hopeful over January reinforcements at Liverpool

Liverpool
manager Roy
Hodgson has
expressed his
hope that he
will be able to
strengthen his
squad next
month.
The Reds boss
had
discussions
with principal
owner John
Henry and Tom
Werner about
the squad and
what transfer
activity is
required when
the Americans
were on
Merseyside earlier this week.
However, the 63-year-old suggested
he was still not sure what the
January window would bring.
'I can only hope we get one or two
of the injured players back in certain
areas," said Hodgson.
'With injuries to Jamie Carragher
(shoulder), Daniel Agger (calf), Jay
Spearing (ankle) and Gerrard
(hamstring) we have been hit hard
in certain areas.
'I can only hope if there is any
possibility of transfers in the January
window that will help us and make
us a better team I will be given the
opportunity to take those players.
'My ambition to improve the squad
is shared by the owners but we will
have to wait and see what
possibilities are there - if any - and
what they would like to do.'
The positive signs emerging from
Melwood yesterday suggested
Gerrard would be fit to return from a
month-long absence from a
hamstring injury against Fulham -
the club Hodgson left in the summer
- at home this evening.
Liverpool have won the last four
Barclays Premier League matches at
Anfield and the return of their
captain would be a huge boost
heading into the busy festive period.
'Four home games out of six (in the
next month) is important because
Anfield has been good to us in recent
weeks,' added the Reds boss.
'We are playing a lot of those teams
who are around or below us in the
table so there is a lot of
responsibility [on the players].
'The problem these days is that there
is not a great deal of difference in
point between the sixth team and
ones at the bottom.'
Midfielder Lucas Leiva, who is set to
return as a number of changes from
the side which drew 0-0 with Utrecht
in the Europa League, believes they
are heading in the right direction
after a difficult start.
'We're doing better now than at the
start of the season,' said the Brazil
international.
'We had some players come and go,
and a new coaching staff arrived and
brought new methods with them.
'Sometimes these things take time
to gel, but we're on the right path.'