Hodgson to launch Pacheco

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has promised Spanish teenager Daniel Pacheco he will be given the opportunity to stake his claim for a place in the side

The 19-year-old forward, who joined the Reds from Barcelona in 2007, completed his first 90 minutes for the first team against Rabotnicki last month and will come into the reckoning for Sunday's trip to Birmingham with Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog both injured.

Hodgson told the club's website: "He is young but it is great that we can keep giving him these opportunities and moments on the field and I think these moments will get even longer as the season progresses.

"Now we are in the Europa League, it is good for me too that I will be able to give chances to the likes of him, (Jay) Spearing and (Jonjo) Shelvey. They need games and we will have plenty of opportunities in the coming months."

Spain U19 international Pacheco is keen to make his mark for Liverpool, adding: "I hope I will play a big part. I know that I have to keep working very hard in training and I will have to take the chances that the manager will give to me."