Hodgson braces for today's talks with owners

London: Roy Hodgson expressed relief last night that he will go into talks with Liverpool's new owners this week on the back of a second consecutive win in the Barclays Premier League.

John W. Henry will arrive in Liverpool today ahead of his first game at Anfield next weekend — when his team meet defending champions and current leaders Chelsea — and Hodgson would have been under huge pressure had his side not snatched a 1-0 victory at Bolton Monday.

"I am delighted to be going into the meeting on the back of a victory because a defeat would have dragged our mood down. [Henry] is very interested in how to move the club forward. We live in a world of euphoria or tragedy. You try to steer an even keel between the two, but you can't stop yourself being optimistic or depressed. So it will be so nice to meet the new owners when we are not in the relegation zone," he said.

Torres' comeback

Hodgson is hoping to see Fernando Torres improve.

"There were signs today that he is coming back," he said. "He has been very good and worked very hard in training.

"We can only encourage him to keep doing what he's doing. We at Liverpool think he is a magnificent player." Hodgson, who will send Joe Cole for a scan on his injured hamstring today, believes his team may have turned a corner.

"I always believed we were working the right way," he said. "I've been as devastated as anyone by the lack of results. But I never stopped believing that the work we have been doing would pay dividends. It's a rebuilding job here but there is light at the end of the tunnel."

On Sunday, the English giants looked to be heading for another desperately disappointing day at the Reebok Stadium as they struggled to break down a determined Wanderers outfit.

But a sublime backheel from Torres — who had missed several chances during another out-of-sorts performance — created an 86th minute winner for Maxi Rodriguez that sealed Liverpool's first away win since April.

The result also sealed back-to-back victories for Roy Hodgson's men following their win over Blackburn last week.

After languishing in the relegation zone for weeks following their worst start to a season in more than 50 years, Liverpool are now 12th with 12 points, still five points off the coveted top four.

— with inputs from AFP