Boss ready for Johnson boost

Rafa Benitez is hoping Glen Johnson will follow Yossi Benayoun and Fernando Torres back to fitness within the next week.

Johnson has been missing since tearing the medial ligament in his right knee during our 1-0 victory at Villa Park on December 29.

But with Torres and Benayoun returning from the bench at Eastlands on Sunday, Benitez is confident all his big names will soon be available.

"I think we have enough quality, Yossi Benayoun is coming back, Fernando Torres is coming back, hopefully Glen Johnson will come back in the next week," said the boss.

"So we are now bringing players back and the competition will be better for us and hopefully we can improve."

Quizzed on his view of Vincent Kompany's challenge on Benayoun which might have earned Liverpool a late penalty during Sunday's goalless draw, Benitez added: "Yossi thought it was a penalty but was trying to play on.

"Sometimes it is good in terms of fair play and sometimes it is bad for the result. He was trying to play on, you can't blame the player, he was trying to score and go forward."