Hodgson exhorts star players to stay

NEW Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson admits he has to sell himself and his ideals to the club’s star players but hopes they will not be tempted to “jump ship”.

The 62-year-old has taken over at Anfield with much uncertainty still surrounding the futures of captain Steven Gerrard, striker Fernando Torres and midfielder Javier Mascherano.

That trio are undoubtedly the club’s most marketable assets and have all been linked with summer moves following the departure of Rafael Benitez last month after a disappointing campaign saw the Reds finish seventh – their worst position for 11 years.