Hodgson in line to become new Liverpool manager

The following story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club:

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is the strong favourite to become the next manager of Liverpool, BBC Sport understands.

An announcement is not expected over the weekend, unless developments progress rapidly over the coming days.

The Reds are still exploring options as they search for a successor to Spaniard Rafael Benitez, whose six-year reign ended earlier this month.

But BBC Sport understands former boss and Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish is not in the running to take over.

Hodgson has remained tight-lipped over rumours linking him with the vacant Liverpool job.

"I'm Fulham manager. I'm perfectly happy at Fulham," the BBC World Cup pundit told presenter Gary Lineker in Cape Town recently. "There's a lot of speculation but I can't enlighten you."

After six years in charge, Benitez left Liverpool by mutual consent and has since joined Champions League winners Inter Milan.

The hugely experienced Hodgson has been in charge of Fulham since December 2007, signing a new 12-month rolling contract in December 2009.

The 62-year-old's achievement in guiding Fulham to the final of the Europa League saw him named manager of the year by the League Manager's Association.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill, former Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, ex-Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic and ex-Manchester City manager Mark Hughes have all been linked with the Liverpool post.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.