Liverpool’s season took another unwanted twist last week, without anyone at Anfield kicking a ball or making any statements about the club’s managerial and fiscal future, when captain Steven Gerrard limped out of England’s friendly against France and out of the Liverpool side for up to a month.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s on-field recovery ran into a Stoke City-shaped obstacle, although the Reds last weekend took full advantage of the morale boost offered by the visit to Anfield of struggling West Ham United.

Liverpool were back to their early-season insipidity at Stoke, succumbing meekly to goals by Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones and having Brazilian midfielder Lucas dismissed for two bookable offences shortly before the end.

They produced an altogether more convincing display to lead the Hammers 3-0 after 38 minutes, eventually coasting to victory by that scoreline. Full-back Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt from the penalty spot and Maxi Rodriguez netted for the Reds.

 

Talismanic midfielder Steven Gerrard had to watch the victory from the stands after suffering a “grade two” hamstring tear in the 84^th-minute of England’s 2-1 defeat.

This annoyed Reds supremo Roy Hodgson not only because of the actual injury but because he claimed Liverpool had requested that Gerrard only play for an hour.

England boss Fabio Capello justified the decision to play Gerrard for longer as England needed experienced players after half-time substitutions.

But although Hodgson said that both he and Gerrard wished to draw a line under the matter, he admitted: “I am frustrated and disappointed to lose such an important player for such a long period of time.

“Anything I say, other than that I am disappointed and even a little bit angry about it – would be dishonest.”

Meanwhile, 21-year-old midfielder Jay Spearing, who has impressed in Liverpool’s Europa League campaign, will be out for up to a month after injuring an ankle in training prior to the West Ham game, which would have been his first EPL start.

However, fellow midfielder Joe Cole may return for Sunday’s EPL fixture at Tottenham, having been out with the hamstring injury he picked up during Liverpool’s 1-0 win at high-flying Bolton at the end of last month.

Hodgson commented: “We hoped he would be back to face West Ham,” (the 29-year-old’s first senior club), “but it has taken that little bit longer. He is not that far away so hopefully he will have recovered in time for Tottenham.”