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• 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

• Midfielder joins Italian club on a season-long loan
• Liverpool manager hcould not guarantee him a start

Alberto Aquilani has joined Juventus on loan for the rest of the season. The midfielder, signed by Rafael Benítez for Liverpool last year for £18m, was deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield after Internazionale ended their interest in Javier Mascherano.

The Liverpool manager, Roy Hodgson, was holding out for £25m for Mascherano and was unwilling to deplete his midfield options by letting Aquilani move until he knew whether the Inter would match his valuation for the Argentinian. Massimo Moratti, the Italian club’s president, confirmed yesterday that he would not.

Aquilani, who joined from Roma as a replacement for Xavi Alonso, was unable to make his debut for Liverpool until October due to an ankle injury and then only started nine games for the club, failing to make an impact in the process.

Hodgson felt he was could not offer the 26-year-old a guarantee of first team football either, saying: “He came here to play every week as a very expensive signing, the first name on the team sheet. But with Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Joe Cole, it’s going to be very hard for me to say: ‘You’ll always be the first name on that team sheet,’ so he would risk not getting enough games again.”

The Liverpool manager now hopes Aquilani will rediscover the form that led to Benítez signing him in the first place by playing regular football in Italy.

“After last year, when he came here injured and hardly played, it would be a disaster for him to have two years of hardly any football,” he said. “If he can get regular games for a top Serie A team, it gives him the football he needs and protects the value of the player. But first we need to get him back to being the player he was when he came over a year ago. We’re doing it with a view to bringing him back.”

LiverpoolJuventusTransfer windowPremier LeagueSerie AEuropean footballTom Bryantguardian.co.uk

• Hong Kong businessman withdraws interest in club
• Huang regrets not being able to expand Asian fan base

The Hong Kong businessman Kenny Huang has withdrawn his interest in buying Liverpool but has not given any reasons for his decision.

Huang issued a statement this evening to say he and his company QSL Sports were pulling out of takeover talks with the Anfield club.

Huang was the first party to openly declare an interest in buying the club from the Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett but refused to comment when it was claimed his bid was backed by the Chinese government.

“Over the past few months we learned firsthand that Liverpool has a very special place in the hearts of millions of fans around the world,” said Huang. “We concluded that a plan that properly capitalises the business and provides funds for a new stadium and player related costs would allow Liverpool FC to provide its great fans with the success they deserve. Our strategy and unique ability to expand the fan base in Asia would have bee of benefit to all. We regret that we will not have the opportunity to implement this strategy.

“We thank the many Liverpool fans who expressed support for our efforts and wish the club great success in the years to come.

“I am now considering my future options and will be making no further comment at this time.”

Huang is believed to have become exasperated at the lack of progress in his attempt to gain control at Liverpool and was thought to want to finalise a deal before the transfer window shut. He was one of several potential bidders who submitted an offer before last Friday’s deadline to buy a club he valued at £350m.

The former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon had been engaged by Huang to lead the negotiation for the club and was acting as a consultant for the businessman, though was not expected to assume a role at the club.

LiverpoolPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk