I will not spend in January for the sake of it, says Hodgson

Roy Hodgson does not expect to be a busy man when the transfer window opens next month. The Liverpool manager has had discussions with Damien Comolli, the clubs' director of football strategy, about strengthening his squad – and there are funds available – but believes there is little value in any mid-season scramble for recruits.

Hodgson takes his side to Blackpool on Boxing Day – weather permitting – and does not expect the team he fields there to alter much over the coming weeks despite the temptation to try and spend his way out of trouble

"I could do that, but that begs the question of when you get a job like this at Liverpool, should you be working for the long-term good or trying to get an extra result or two for Roy Hodgson?" he said. "I'd like to think I am big enough and confident enough to take the long-term view even though it might work against me. I would be very disappointed if I went out in January and spent a lot of money on the wrong players and then, come the summer, we are no better off.

"All we would be doing is adding a few more players who we don't think are good enough to the roster. I can't guarantee it won't happen but it is not my intention."

Hodgson and Comolli are in constant discussions about who are the right people to try and bring in and Hodgson is confident that Liverpool's New England owners will fund his desired choices if the perfect match can be found.

"There's no doubt I and Damien Comolli are pushing the owners to back us if we come up with the right people and I think they probably will," he added. "We are targeting players who clubs don't want to let go even if we offer them good money. I think our supporters need to understand that and they will understand that."