Watch Liverpool

• Hodgson says Manchester City can emulate Chelsea
• Manager intends to scour Liverpool’s academy for talent

Roy Hodgson has issued a fine rebuke to the theory that his and Liverpool’s miserable away form last season can be eradicated by a change of scenery or manager. “It’s not about giving the coach a magic wand,” he said. “And I am the ultimate anti-magic wand man.” He does, however, subscribe to the view Manchester City’s millions can transform them into title contenders overnight.

Liverpool lost eight times on their travels last term, winning only five league games away from Anfield, and face an immediate examination of their resolve under Hodgson at Eastlands tonight. Hope of a return to the Champions League is tempered not only by Liverpool’s lack of new investment, with Kenny Huang withdrawing from the sales process on Friday night, but the continued largesse and development at City. And Hodgson believes the demand for a quick return on Sheikh Mansour’s £130m outlay this summer alone is not without foundation.

The Liverpool manager said: “Chelsea did it. I’d say they were nothing like title contenders when Roman Abramovich came in and took over the club. Since he has, they have won titles. Blackburn Rovers did it, too, with Jack Walker, who came to a club that was never winning anything. They spent an awful lot of money on the likes of Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton and Tim Sherwood, and were champions almost straight away. So you’ve seen it done with Chelsea and you’ve seen it at Blackburn, so why isn’t it possible at Manchester