LIVERPOOL boss Roy Hodgson has welcomed owner John W Henry’s promise that no star names will be sold in January.

The New England Sports Ventures principal owner moved yesterday to quell speculation over the future of Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina.

Both have been linked with moves during the next transfer window but Henry insists he’s only interested in helping to improve the Reds’ squad.

Hodgson has no doubt that Torres and Reina remain firmly committed to helping Liverpool climb the Premier League table ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Bolton.

“The statement from the owners was perfect and what everyone wanted to hear,” he said.

“It’s sad these stories surface because there is no truth in them. There is no way we are interested in letting any of our players go in January. This is a buying club, not a selling club.

“One of the owners’ aims is for us to rebuild and get stronger. We’ll do that by keeping our strong base of top class players and adding players to it.

“Reina and Torres have been excellent in training and their commitment to the club is as good as ever. There is no question they are anything other than committed to helping the club reach a better position.”

Hodgson admits he’s been taken aback by the intense scrutiny of his actions and the countless stream of rumours since he arrived at Anfield in July.

“Speculation can be damaging but it depends how you deal with it,” he said.

“There are players here who have played for Liverpool for a long time. Every other day of their lives they read or hear some nonsense about themselves. They seem to be a pretty hardened bunch.

“I’m relatively hardened but I’ve been spared too much at Fulham where never a bad word was said.

“It is an interesting thing for me to get into the type of mindset Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard are so good at.