Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson continues to assemble a squad he believes is capable of securing a top-four Premier League place next season (7/4) with the capture of midfielder Christian Poulsen and imminent signing of goalkeeper Brad Jones.

Poulsen has joined the Reds from Juventus in a £4.5million deal and will be seen as a direct replacement for Javier Mascherano – who is expected to seal a switch to either Inter Milan or Barcelona in the next week.

Mascherano confirmed after Argentina’s friendly win over Ireland on Wednesday that he has no problem with Liverpool but he and his family want a change of lifestyle and would prefer a move away from England, where he has been for the past four years.

Poulsen’s arrival at Anfield is the fifth new face at the club this summer, following on from the capture of Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic on free transfers and the signings of Danny Wilson from Rangers and Jonjo Shelvey from Charlton.

Hodgson will hope the club’s summer dealings will ensure a return to form for Liverpool this term after last season’s seventh-place finish in the Premier League.

The former Fulham chief is also hoping to seal Jones for just over £2million from Middlesbrough while he is actively searching for a striker as back-up for Fernando Torres and an experienced left-back ahead of the new season.

His new-look squad kick off their campaign at home to Arsenal on Sunday (Liverpool 6/4, Arsenal 19/10) before the first leg of the Europa League play-off, also at home, against Turkish side Trabzonspor next Thursday (Liverpool 10/1 to win Europa League).