Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has spoken of his pride in having two World Cup winners in the Anfield ranks.

Striker Fernando Torres and goalkeeper Pepe Reina were both part of Spain's successful squad in South Africa.

They will shortly return to Merseyside to begin preparations ahead of the new club season and Hodgson believes that everybody connected with the Reds will be lifted by their achievement.

Fellow Reds Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel were part of beaten finalists Holland's squad, while the Spanish 23-man party also contained former Anfield stars Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.

"As Liverpool manager, I take great pride in the fact that two of our players can call themselves World Cup winners this summer," Hodgson told the club's official website.

"Unfortunately, one team had to lose that final and while my commiserations go out to the Dutch lads, I have to say congratulations to Fernando and Pepe.

"Winning the World Cup is the ultimate honour any player can have in international football and you could see what it meant to both players as soon as the celebrations started.

"I think it's safe to say the pictures of Fernando in the dressing room with the World Cup certainly went down well with our fans but the club can be proud of all the players who went away to the World Cup.

"To have four players reach the final is an incredible achievement and I look forward to working with them when they return to Melwood after their holidays."

Meanwhile, the Reds have confirmed the departures of midfielder Francisco Duran and goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov after the pair failed to make the step up from academy to first-team level.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email