Top duo on Reds shortlist

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

Roy Hodgson and Louis van Gaal will be the first two managers to be approached by Liverpool king-maker Kenny Dalglish.

A meeting at Anfield yesterday between the Reds' legend and managing director Christian Purslow has outlined a shortlist of potential ­candidates to replace Rafa Benitez.

And the overwhelming front-runners on that list are Fulham boss Hodgson and Champions League finalist van Gaal, who enjoyed a successful campaign with Bayern Munich this season.

Dalglish will make discreet approaches to both men and then put together a package to tempt one of them to Anfield.

The Liverpool board feel there is no need to rush, given that the World Cup will ­dominate the next month and few players will be ­available until after the ­tournament.

But Dalglish and Purslow have decided that Hodgson and van Gaal have the perfect qualities to take the club forward after a poor season.

Hodgson's wife Sheila is from Liverpool and the couple enjoyed living in the north-west while he was boss of Blackburn.

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