Liverpool's first target is to keep squad together, says Roy Hodgson

Hodgson, who succeeded Rafael Benítez in July said his main aim has been to avoid having to rebuild the playing squad completely. In that regard he has been relatively successful with the only sale being Javier Mascherano's to Barceloan.

"The club is up for sale and nobody knows what direction it will take if and when new owners are found," Hodgson told the League Managers Association magazine, the Manager.

"A few years ago when the situation was far more stable, the money to buy new players was available. I hope the situation will change when the club is eventually sold and owners who are prepared to invest in the club come in.

"When that situation arises I'm pretty sure that it won't be difficult for us to start achieving things again but at the moment the task is really to hang on to the players we've got and make certain we don't have a situation where we have got a total rebuilding process."

Hodgson said, however, that despite the restrictions imposed on him, Liverpool can still win things while the club's ownership was in limbo.

"The stature, traditions and ability of Liverpool to attract players certainly makes it an achievable task even though we are in strange times," he said.

"You should never try and dampen people's enthusiasm and optimism. Furthermore every season we see teams not expected to win titles winning them. It doesn't always go to the favourite in any country.

"So we should never play down the Liverpool fans' incredible desire and passion to keep winning trophies – and the Premier League in particular – and keep their noses in front of Manchester United."