ROY HODGSON admits he cannot wave a magic wand to cure Liverpool’s chronic bout of travel sickness.

Hodgson’s men play their first game of the campaign on their Premier League travels this evening when they make the short trip down the M62 to take on top-four rivals Manchester City.

Liverpool won just two of their final 12 top-flight away games last season, a spell during which they triumphed in only one of five cup games away from Anfield.

They can boast a good record at Eastlands having lost just once in seven visits since the stadium was opened in 2002.

But Hodgson believes there is no secret ingredient to good away form other than strong performances.

“Give us coaches a magic wand or magic words,” said the Liverpool manager. “You can’t say four or five sentences to them and say ‘you’ll never lose again’. It doesn’t work like that, you have to play well – that’s what we work at every day.

“We work on being stronger defensively and scoring goals, and if you get that, you will win at home and away. I’m the ultimate anti-magic wand man.”