Reds boss Hodgson issues challenge to Torres understudies

LIVERPOOL manager Roy Hodgson has challenged Ryan Babel and David Ngog to prove they are good enough to provide back-up for Fernando Torres and save him the trouble of having to sign a striker in the future.

The 62-year-old had wanted to bring in another forward last month to help ease the burden on Torres over the entire season.

However, he admits there were no players which “excited” him enough to spend money late on in the transfer window – when additional cash became available after Javier Mascherano’s £20million move to Barcelona three days before the deadline.