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Hodgson chasing two more Liverpool signings

Roy Hodgson insists he is focused solely on matters on the pitch © Getty Images

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Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has revealed he plans to bring in two more faces before the end of the transfer window.

In his first competitive match in charge at Anfield, Hodgson's side cruised past Rabotnicki 2-0 to seal a 4-0 aggregate victory in their Europa League third qualifying round tie. New signing Joe Cole played a starring role in his Anfield debut, and Hodgson admits he won't be happy until he bolsters his squad still further ahead of the new season.

Christian Poulsen, the experienced holding midfielder at Juventus, is expected to complete a £4 million move in the near future, but the Liverpool manager does not want the entrance door to slam shut behind the Denmark international.

"We have made a couple of signings so far, we have brought in Joe Cole, Danny Wilson and we hope to bring in at least another couple," revealed Hodgson. "We've done our research on the players we are able and capable of signing, on players that Liverpool want right now and you have to remember it is not how much they cost but how good the are."

Middlesbrough's goalkeeper Brad Jones, who would qualify as a home grown player, has reportedly seen a £2 million bid turned down by his current club. With talk of an imminent takeover at Liverpool increasing, it would be tempting for Hodgson to start dreaming of big name signings to rival Manchester City's spending, but he insists any arrivals will be low-key in the current transfer window.

"The danger would be in a late takeover that the money would be available and we wouldn't have the chance to do our research. If a lot of money did become available as happened at Manchester City and Chelsea in the past, we would make sure we did our research before we started splashing the money around.

"If one day an enormous amount of money is made available like it was for Manchester City and Chelsea so be it, it would be nice. But it is not a question of how much a player costs, it is how good he is."

Joe Cole certainly showed why Hodgson persuaded him to join the club with a virtuoso display on Thursday night, creating David Ngog's opening goal, and the Liverpool boss revealed the key to the former Chelsea man's form is to make sure he is happy.

"Joe is desperate to play. He came here because he thought he might get the opportunity to start more games than he did at Chelsea," added Hodgson. "He is an enthusiastic and effervescent footballer and the more he plays the happier he is. His energy and enthusiasm tonight meant he had a really good home debut."

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