Defensive duo back for Reds

Liverpool will be without captain Steven Gerrard for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match at home to West Ham as the midfielder has been sidelined for a month by a hamstring injury.

The 30-year-old sustained a grade two tear in England’s friendly defeat to France in midweek and will be out for at least three to four weeks.

With Lucas Leiva serving a one-match suspension for his sending-off in last weekend’s defeat at Stoke manager Roy Hodgson will have to reshuffle central midfield.

Defenders Glen Johnson, back after three games out, and Fabio Aurelio, who has made one substitute appearance since the end of August, are both in the squad. Joe Cole (hamstring) is still a week away from fitness.

Provisional squad: Reina, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky, Poulsen, Meireles, Spearing, Rodriguez, Kuyt, Torres, Jones, Johnson, Kelly, Shelvey, Jovanovic, Babel, Ngog.