Eriksson wants dream Anfield job

Benitez's Anfield exit was confirmed last week, with the two sides parting ways by mutual consent.  The Spaniard enjoyed almost six years at the helm, winning the Champions League and the FA Cup, but last season proved to be disastrous for Liverpool with Benitez paying the price.

Although Fulham's Roy Hodgson is regarded as the favourite to take over at Anfield, Swedish coach Eriksson has made his availability clear and is quoted in the Liverpool Echo, saying, "I have been a Liverpool fan all of my life. I never mentioned it when I was in charge of England because I didn't think it was fair.

"I was shocked when I discovered Rafa Benitez had left. Would I want to be the manager of Liverpool? It is every manager's dream to manage Liverpool.

"My father was also a Liverpool supporter and every Saturday we would watch an English match on television. It was the highlight of the week.

"Liverpool matches were televised quite regularly and we would cheer them on. They have always been my team and nothing has changed. When I was starting out in coaching I was invited to Liverpool to see how they did things. Joe Fagan was the manager at the time."

Eriksson will guide the Ivory Coast through the upcoming World Cup but will be a free agent once the tournament finishes.

He continued, "My situation is easy. I have a contract with the Ivory Coast until the end of the World Cup and then I am free. Hopefully I will sit on some bench somewhere in the world, I don't know where.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world so everybody wants to be a manager in the Premier League."

Eriksson has previously coached in the Premier League at Manchester City from 2007-08.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.