With Roy Hodgson expected to be announced as the new Liverpool manager very soon it seems likely that a number of players will take stock of the situation and move on.

Javier Mascherano, the tough tackling Argentinian has been making noises all season about wanting to move and he may follow his former manager Rafael Benitez to Inter Milan.It is however the position of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres that will worry most Liverpool fans.

Gerrard is approaching 30 and probably will need to move abroad now if he thinks he's done all he can at Anfield.

To delay another year would make him less likely to attract the big Spanish clubs which is where he would like to try to prove himself further. Torres may stay and see what happens with Hodgson, but a new manager needs time to gell with the club and he may just think that one more year is just worthwhile unless of course Italy beckons for him too.

Whatever the scenario with those three players, Liverpool FC face the coming season in a far less comfortable position than their neighbours Everton.

Saddled with huge debts, with American owners who have no heart for the club or English football and with a squad that is arguably the weakest in decades they must be looking worryingly over their shoulders at the momentum that is underway at Everton.

If the Goodison Park side can avoid the loss of key players and add a couple more to the new signings already made, then  Evertonians will go into the season with optimism and the realistic view that they can overtake Liverpool and break into the top 4 as they did not too long ago.

by Kevin Armstrong