Hodgson has goal plan to lift Torres

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is keen to get Fernando Torres back to form and scoring goals.

The 26-year-old has been alarmingly out of sorts this season, scoring just once, and his evident frustrations have already sparked speculation about his happiness at an underachieving Liverpool.

However, Wayne Rooney's apparent desire to leave Manchester United has had the rumour mill working overtime, throwing out the possibility of the Red Devils making an audacious bid to buy Torres as a replacement.

Hodgson knows if his striker is scoring goals he is happy and the speculation about his future will be less intense, although he accepts it will never go away.

"I am not naive enough to think there is no danger we will ever lose a player like Fernando Torres," he said.

"I can only hope we won't and I will do everything in my power to keep him happy at the club, improve his current form and to get him playing for Liverpool as he has in the past."

Torres has been rested for tonight's Europa League tie against Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo. Asked about the possible threat of a United bid Hodgson added: "We'd cross that bridge when we come to it."