SUNDAY 21
	Johnson: I've not been in form Glen Johnson admitted he has yet to reach top form this season after marking his return from injury with a goal in the 3-0 win over West Ham. "It's always nice to come off the treatment bench and it's obviously nice to come back with a goal. I missed the last six out of seven games, so I just wanted to get back into it." (LFC Official Website) Broughton announces departure from Liverpool Martin Broughton has announced his departure as Liverpool chairman. Broughton, also chairman of British Airways, was appointed in April to oversee the sale of the club. Now that has been achieved and New England Sports Ventures are starting to bring in their own people, with the search currently on for a new chief executive, Broughton is more than happy to stand aside. "The game (against West Ham) is my last home fixture as chairman of Liverpool Football Club," said the self-confessed Chelsea fan. "It was always my stated intention to stand down once the sale was completed and I am happy that the club is now in good hands. "This has been one of the most memorable experiences of my working life and I would like to wish Liverpool and its supporters every success for the future. "The last seven months have been a pleasure and a privilege for me to serve this fantastic sporting institution. "Everybody associated with the club can now look forward to an exciting future with the right owners and the club on a secure financial footing. "Liverpool FC will always hold a special place in my heart as a result of the relationships I have forged over these past months." (tribalfootball.com)
	SATURDAY 20
	Hodgson pleased with response Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson admitted his side's 3-0 victory over West Ham was as comfortable as it gets for a manager, despite the absence of injured captain Steven Gerrard. The match was won in the first half after goals from Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt from the penalty spot and Maxi Rodriguez, taking the Reds within three points of the fourth place currently occupied by Bolton. "It was important to win and I think we did it in some style," said Hodgson. "We knew what we had to do today. We were concerned we would have to do it without Steven and Lucas Leiva (who was suspended) but the players selected today did really well." (Sky Sports)      Liverpool demolish woeful West Ham It was hardly a proper test of being able to cope without Steven Gerrard but Liverpool did more than enough to dispose of a woeful West Ham at Anfield. With the captain out for a month with a hamstring tear manager Roy Hodgson called for his players to step up to fill the void and the Barclays Premier League's bottom side provide the perfect opposition. First-half goals from Glen Johnson and Maxi Rodriguez, either side of a Dirk Kuyt penalty, were enough to wrap up the points in the first half. The visiting fans were less than impressed and directed their anger at manager Avram Grant with chants of 'You're getting sacked in the morning'. It is unlikely Liverpool will have an easier game this season and it was the ideal tonic for them after two poor performances in a 1-1 draw at Wigan and last Saturday's defeat at Stoke which ended a six-game unbeaten run. (PA)     Johnson returns Glen Johnson returns from injury to face West Ham United at Anfield this evening. The team in full is: Reina, Konchesky, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel , Poulsen, Meireles, Maxi, Kuyt, Ngog, Torres. Subs: Jones, Eccleston, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Shelvey, Kelly, Babel. (LFC Official Website)   U18s held by City Liverpool U18s played out an entertaining 2-2 draw away at Manchester City on Saturday morning. The home side took a first half lead but Rodolfo Borrell's side stormed back in the second half and took the game to their opponents. Craig Roddan equalised with a terrific half-volley from the edge of the box, then a sweeping team move started from the back ended with Kristjan Gauti Emilsson making it 2-1. City came back though and equalised 10 minutes from time as the game ended 2-2. Liverpool U18s: Belford, Poor (Regan), Smith, Sama, McGiveron, Coady, Sterling, Roddan, Ngoo, Emilsson (Adorjan), Silva. Subs unused: Stephens, Aylmer, Morgan. (LFC Official Website) Fowler set for Dons coach role Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler is set to join League One outfit MK Dons as a coach in February. The 35-year-old striker will rejoin his old friend - and MK Dons manager - Karl Robinson at the club. Fowler worked with Robinson during his time with the Liverpool Academy and also at Blackburn Rovers. While assistant manager at stadium:mk, Robinson then invited Fowler to the club in April to meet the squad and work with the Dons' strikers. Fowler has now agreed to return on a more permanent basis when he has finished his current playing stint with Australian side Perth Glory, for whom he netted a hat-trick in last week's 3-1 win over Melbourne Victory. Welcoming the new arrangement, Robinson said: "When his season finishes he'll be over on a regular basis working with the forwards as part of my coaching team." Fowler's friend Dietmar Hamann is already a player-coach at stadium:mk. (TEAMtalk) Torres: Reds are with Roy Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has given under-fire manager Roy Hodgson his full backing. The Spain international has reacted to claims that some of the foreign contingent in the Reds camp has lost faith in the English tactician and they felt former manager Rafa Benitez should have remained in charge. Hodgson has been the subject of some rough treatment from the Kop faithful too which has included chants for Kenny Dalglish to replace him as manager after last weekend's defeat to Stoke City. But Torres, who is expected to lead the line in Saturday evening's Premier League clash against West Ham United, has voiced his support for the former Fulham boss. He told Spanish radio: "The squad here trusts in Roy Hodgson, and so do I. I have no problems with the manager at all, he has always trusted in me and that's very important to any footballer. "Although he was here a long time, the Benitez phase at Liverpool is already history. It belongs to the past and now only the present is important to us. "You have to look forward, not back. Roy is a very serious coach who in the summer explained to me very clearly what he wanted from me. But it is not simple to begin a new project with a different coach in a club where it is always required to fight for every competition. "You have to adapt to new ways to create a winning team and that is never easy - but the team is reacting. "Not everything has gone well, but if we can put three wins together then I think the team will be back at the right end of the table, and we'll be more relaxed and play better." (Sky Sports) Roy backs Poulsen Roy Hodgson has backed Christian Poulsen to come good at Liverpool. Poulsen has struggled to adapt to English football, with his last Premiership start being the awful 2-1 defeat to Blackpool back on October 3rd. However, he is likely to start today with Steven Gerrard and Jay Spearing injured and Lucas Levia suspended and Hodgson has backed the Dane to start showing his best form. "He's been a bit unlucky. He's had one or two poor games but when you come to a new club and you have a poor game or you're playing in a losing team, it gets noticed by everybody," said the boss. "Last year and the year before it was Lucas, and now suddenly people are realising Lucas is a good player. I'm sure everyone here will realise Christian Poulsen is also a very good player. "It'll be tough for him if the team doesn't start well and he doesn't start well against West Ham. He'll have to accept he won't have the crowd with him. "He's a very strong character, a very experienced player and you don't play 80-odd games for Denmark and for clubs like Sevilla and Juventus unless you've got something special about you." (LFC Online) Liverpool step back from FA row on Gerrard request Liverpool have wound their neck in over Steven Gerrard's hamstring injury suffered while on England duty. Reds boss Roy Hodgson says they won't kick up a fuss - on request from Gerrard. He explained: "My thoughts on Steven are obviously, as Liverpool manager, that I'm frustrated and disappointed to lose such a good player for a long period of time after a friendly. "Saying anything other than I'm disappointed and a bit angry would be dishonest, but Steven is anxious to put a tin lid on the matter. "We've had a couple of days of club-versus-country debate but Steven is a very important player for both teams and anxious to put this behind him. "He's keen to make it clear he is disappointed and sad too, but will do everything to get to full fitness as soon as possible." (tribalfootball.com)
	FRIDAY 19
	Hodgson: No Johnson bust-up Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has described speculation surrounding the future of Glen Johnson as a storm in a tea cup. Reports have suggested that the England international could leave Anfield in the January transfer window after criticism from his club boss earlier in November. (Sky Sports)    Jay faces six weeks out Jay Spearing's dream of making his first Barclays Premier League start at Anfield this weekend is over after he suffered an ankle injury in the closing stages of Friday's training session. The 21-year-old was hoping to use the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard and suspended Lucas Leiva to stake his claim for a first-team place. However, he now stands no chance of featuring in the tea-time kick-off against West Ham and instead faces up to six weeks on the sidelines. "Unfortunately right at the end of the training session, which was 5-a-side and not at all a competitive game, he turned his ankle and cracked a small bone just above the ankle in his fibia," said boss Roy Hodgson. "That means he is going to be missing for six weeks. It is a terrible blow for Jay and us. He has been doing ever so well and getting closer and closer to a place in the first team. "I was considering using him in this game, possibly even starting him." (LFC Official Website) Hodgson irked by Gerrard loss Roy Hodgson could not hide his frustration about Steven Gerrard's injury whilst on England duty, although the Liverpool manager stressed there is no bad blood between the club and the Football Association. Hodgson confessed he was 'disappointed and a little bit angry' after seeing his captain hobble out of the Three Lions' midweek defeat to France. "As Liverpool manager I am frustrated and disappointed to lose such an important player for such a long period of time," said Hodgson, who will be without fellow central midfielder Lucas Leiva through suspension. "Anything I say - other than I am disappointed and even a little bit angry about it - would be dishonest." (Sky Sports) Reds to receive Gerrard pay-out The Football Association have confirmed their insurers will pay compensation to Liverpool for Steven Gerrard's hamstring injury. Estimates say Liverpool will pocket £500,000 after their captain got injured in England's friendly defeat to France at Wembley on Wednesday. The 30-year-old has been ruled out for a month, which could have a significant effect on his side's season after a recent revival came to an end at Stoke last Saturday. The FA have been anxious to point out the cash will not come directly from them but an insurance scheme that has been set up, which has already paid out to Arsenal and Tottenham for injuries sustained by Theo Walcott and Jermain Defoe on international duty this season. Michael Owen was the subject of one of the more expensive claims when he was injured on World Cup duty in 2006. The FA are one of the few national associations who run such an insurance scheme. Wednesday night's opponents France do not for instance, whilst many smaller nations simply could not afford the premiums to cover their star players. (TEAMtalk) Carragher tells Reds to shape up without Gerrard Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has urged the team to rise to the challenge of losing captain Steven Gerrard for up to a month. With the captain now out for a month it could easily be argued Liverpool have lost at least 50% of their cutting edge. But Carragher, who will lead the side in the 30-year-old’s absence, insists they have to adapt and cope – starting against Barclays Premier League bottom side West Ham at Anfield tomorrow. “There is no doubt Steven will be missed whether we win, lose or draw because he is such an important player here,” said Carragher, who recently described Gerrard as the best player in the club’s history. “But it is up to us to perform well and lessen the impact, like when we beat Spurs (2-0) in January without him and Fernando. (BreakingNews.ie)   Reds chief stuck in the middle Roy Hodgson has to find a solution to Liverpool's growing problems in central midfield after Steven Gerrard was ruled out for a month. The 30-year-old has been sidelined by a grade two hamstring tear sustained in England's midweek defeat to France, when he played 25 minutes longer than had previously been agreed. With Lucas Leiva suspended for Saturday's visit of Premier League bottom side West Ham and summer signing Christian Poulsen struggling to settle in, Hodgson has some switching around to do. One option would be to play Raul Meireles in his preferred central position - something the Reds boss has been reluctant to do as he allows the Portugal international time to adjust having joined in August. But even if he can back up some encouraging performances wide on the right with similar displays through the middle it is going to be difficult to fill the hole left by Gerrard. (TEAMtalk) Thor Zakariassen ©