Liverpool will meet with Roy Hodgson upon his return to England to complete a deal to make him their new manager.
Hodgson is flying back from South Africa, where he was a pundit for the BBC at the World Cup, after hopes of succeeding Fabio Capello were dashed as England booked their place in the knockout stages with a win over Slovenia yesterday.
Anfield chiefs are now keen to formalise their appointment of Hodgson after interviewing a series of candidates to replace Rafael Benitez at the helm including Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill, Birmingham City's Alex McLeish and Manuel Pellegrini.
Bookmakers slashed odds on Pellegrini after he was seen in talks with Reds' legend Kenny Dalglish, who is assisting the club in their selection process, in London last Thursday whilst reports in Chile indicated that the ex-Real Madrid boss had signed a deal to take the reins.
Dalglish continues to harbour ambitions of returning to management and the job he left in 1991 and is expected to reconsider his position at the club as head of youth development if Fulham boss Hodgson is appointed, despite the pair being longstanding friends.
Steven Gerrard, whose Anfield future continues to remain the subject of intense speculation, captained England to the narrow victory in Port Elizabeth and will lead his country out again on Sunday where Germany lie in wait.
Despite being one of the few outstanding candidates for the Three Lions in the group stages, the Huyton-born midfielder was quick to heap praise on his team mates after Jermaine Defoe's first-half strike ensured Capello's side would finish Group C runners-up.
He said: "I felt very comfortable and I am very happy with my form throughout the tournament so far but I don't think it's fair though to point out any individuals from today as all the players and all the substitutes that came on were terrific.
"If we play like we did today, stick together, keep trying to improve and keep listening to the manager - because his ideas and what he wants from the team are spot on - and deliver what he's asking then we will be difficult to beat.
"We have the quality in the team to win football matches.
"All games are difficult as we've seen from the first game, but It's all about us now and we know on our day if we play close to our potential we are a match for anyone," he added.
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