Roy: We're fighting to find form

Roy Hodgson today insisted his players are working hard to emerge from their current troubles.

The boss admits his squad is down after a poor run of results, but he's taking heart from the training sessions since Sunday's derby defeat where the Reds are showing determination to find their best form.

"The players were very upbeat today," said Hodgson. "The training session was very good - the intensity and concentration was as good as one would wish to see at any stage in the season. That, in itself, is very commendable when you are down. You can't deny that we are down. We are down because we aren't doing what we want to do, because the fans are angry and disappointed in us; we are down because we are at a great club and should be doing better.

"Unfortunately the reason we aren't doing better is down to a number of factors. But it was great that we all rose above it and got out there and started playing again. Now we badly need that result or run of results that will at least take us into a safer position when we can live and breathe again."

Liverpool can forget about their league troubles tomorrow night when they turn their focus to a Europa League clash with Napoli in Italy.

With four points from their opening two group games, the Reds are ideally placed to kick on and secure early qualification - but Hodgson insists his side will face a tough test in Italy.

"They are good," he said. "I spoke to Claudio Ranieri at an elite trainer conference in Nyon not so long back and asked him about the Italian league and where the major threat to so called big clubs come from. He cited Napoli. Apparently they have a new owner, the son of the famous film producer, De Laurentiis.

"A lot of money has been put into the club, they've invested in some big name South American players.

"They are taking it very seriously. They are fourth in the league. Whatever team we play will have a tough game. We've got great respect for them. We've scouted them, we've been to see them play twice and done our video analysis.

"It'll be a chance for at least four or five players that haven't played so much this year to show me that they should be in the team or that I should be taking them seriously."