BARRY KOPS REDS ROLE

As we revealed back in June the Coleraine man has left Manchester City to join up with fellow countryman Brendan Rodgers at Anfield as part of his new scouting team.

Hunter is joined on Merseyside by Dave Fallows, who he worked with at City.

Fallows has been appointed the new head of scouting and recruitment.

Both boast impressive track records, Fallows a former Bolton Wanderers performance analyst while Hunter, a former Northern Ireland and Wrexham defender, had been City’s chief scout for Italy, Switzerland and Russia and worked with Rodgers while at Reading.

City had placed the duo on gardening leave throughout the transfer window, only allowing them to begin work at Anfield once deadline day had passed.

And their entrance is a further indicator of what Rodgers regards as the jigsaw pieces coming into place behind the scenes.

“It was their first day on Wednesday,” says the Liverpool manager.

“They were in bright and early, eight o’clock. They are ready to go.

“They understand what we’re trying to do here. It’s their job to find players who fit the profile of the players we want. That’s important.

“There were plenty of conditions of their agreement. But when the window shut, they were free to work.

“I’ve given them profiles of types of players that we want. That’s important.

“There were plenty of conditions of their agreement. But when the window shut, they were free to work.

“I’ve given them profiles of types of players that we want.

“Recruitment, though, ultimately comes down to two things – availability and affordability. That’s the nuts and bolts of it.

“We all know who the best players are, but we are trying to find the rough diamonds we can polish up as well as being in the market for the top players.

“Summer was always going to be difficult for a number of reasons but already pieces of the jigsaw are starting to slot in, which means the wheels are running a bit more smoothly.”

New head of scouting Fallows had already been targeted by Liverpool owners FSG earlier in the summer, and his signature was given full blessing by Rodgers.

“They were appointments I was fully aware of,” says the Northern Irishman. “I’ve known Barry for a long time and Dave also.

“Dave was already in the offing to come here. From Dave’s position, he would only accept the job if someone like myself was coming in. That’s what he has said.

“He was in a good place at Manchester City, he had a good role. Once I’d agreed to come here, only after did he agree to come.

“Barry I’ve known a long time and he worked alongside him.”

Another backroom appointment has seen Michael Edwards, at the club since last November, assume the role of head of performance analysis.

And Rodgers explains: “The job of Barry and Dave and their team is to identify the targets, Michael will then try and find out as much about the player as we possibly can. But that’s no different to numbers of other clubs.

“I’m not perfect. I don’t need to do everything on my own. The modern day manager can’t do that.

“But you have the final say on players, there’s absolutely no question about that.”