Barcelona, though, appear to have now assumed pole position, with coach Pep Guardiola a huge fan of the Argentina skipper and having already failed in one move for the midfielder 12 months ago.

Mascherano’s situation overshadowed a disappointing evening for Liverpool, who are still waiting for their first win of the Premier League season after the opening-day draw with Arsenal. The only positive was a first start in almost five months for Fernando Torres, the Spaniard playing 78 minutes before being replaced by Ryan Babel.

"Torres has a way to go still," said Hodgson.

"We knew that. He came back to training three weeks after everyone else and is still in the middle of a preparation period."

Of the game, he added: "I didn’t think we were under the cosh to the extent that 3-0 might suggest. We were a little bit unlucky with that wonderful double save from Joe Hart that we didn’t get back into the game at 2-0.

"We defended poorly for the goals and they took their chances when we defended poorly. I thought they played solidly and strongly throughout. They were strong physically and took charge of the game.

"We were always fighting to get back into it and sometimes you have to accept that on the night we weren’t able to produce the level of performance necessary to get a good result from the game."

Meanwhile, Liverpool may be forced to turn their sights elsewhere after their initial bid for PSV Eindhoven's Swedish striker Ola Toivonen was turned down.

Hodgson is also contemplating a move for PSV left-back Carlos Salcido as he looks to bolster his squad before the transfer window closes next Tuesday.

But a PSV spokesman said yesterday: "Liverpool have been in contact with us and they know what we think.

"But there has been nothing in the last two or three days. We don't know Liverpool's intentions about Carlos Salcido. He is a new name on the page."

Goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri has completed his move to promoted Serie A outfit Cesena.