Brendan Rodgers praised Jonjo Shelvey after Liverpool's 3-2 triumph at Upton Park

Glen Johnson fired Liverpool ahead with the best goal of the match in the 11th minute, before a Mark Noble penalty and an own goal by Steven Gerrard allowed the Hammers to reach half-time 2-1 in front.

But with 14 minutes remaining, substitute Joe Cole levelled matters with James Collins netting the second own goal of the contest on 79 to hand the Merseysiders three points.

The visitors even managed to win without their leading striker Luis Suarez who had to sit out a one-game ban.

But Rodgers said of Shelvey: "He was outstanding. But you see there are two different ways in which you can play the number nine role.

"In this country it is always a very traditional target man, a clear number nine. Give credit to Carlton Cole, I know him form my time at Chelsea, he is a real handful and was outstanding today.

"But you see young Jonjo at 20 years of age playing the number nine role in a different way - dropping into midfield and combining w ith the midfield players to make the fourth man, being a threat when he is in and around the box, showing great feet and I thought he was outstanding today the kid.

"It was great credit to him because there was a lot of pressure on him because people have been trying to compare him to Luis Suarez.

"But he is only 20 and has a big future ahead of him."

Liverpool's Stewart Downing disappointed at lack of opportunities

The England international has been restricted to making the majority of his appearances in the Europa League since boss Brendan Rodgers succeeded Kenny Dalglish in the summer.

And Downing has been linked with a return to boyhood club Middlesbrough but, ahead of Liverpool's Sunday Premier League game at West Ham United, he is committed.

"It has been frustrating at times and I have been disappointed this season not to have played more games," said Downing in The Sun.

"But I am just trying to do my best when I play and to get a goal. It is a great club to play for. Hopefully it long continues."

Liverpool will take on West Ham at Upton Park without suspended star striker Luis Suarez but Rodgers is still demanding a win and some consistency.

The manager has not given up hope of a place in the Premier League's top four but he knows his squad must start converting draws into wins.

He said: "If you are going to be succ essful, then you have got to be consistent. Over the course of the season so far we haven't got that wee bit of luck.

"We managed to go eight games unbeaten in the league and the draws we had could very easily have been turned into victories.

"If you're going to challenge at the top end, you always have to be striving for that level of consistency."

West Ham rely on Carlton Cole; Liverpool without suspended Luis Suarez

The former Reds midfielder missed the Hammers' 3-1 win over Chelsea as he was ineligible to appear against his parent club.

Andy Carroll (knee) could be missing for two months but would not have been able to feature against Liverpool due to the terms of his loan, whilst Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder), Alou Diarra (thigh) and Jack Collison (knee) are all definitely out.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is suspended for the trip to Upton Park after accumulating five bookings.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has played midfielder Jonjo Shelvey in a 'false nine' position before and could do so again as a stop-gap with no other senior strikers fit.

Captain Steven Gerrard, left out of the Europa League squad which beat Udinese in Italy because of illness, will be restored at Upton Park as will the rested Daniel Agger and Lucas Leiva.

Henderson hopes to build on goal

The 22-year-old struck midway through the second half against 10-man Udinese when he drove a pass from Suso under the body of goalkeeper Daniele Padelli.

With rivals Young Boys beating Anzhi that strike was the difference between Liverpool going through to the last 32 of the Europa Laegue and getting knocked out.

And after a difficult few months on the fringes of the team Henderson believes only his third goal in 65 appearances since his 16million move from Sunderland is just the tonic he needed.

"It is always nice to get goals and it was a good moment for me to score," he said.

"I have missed a few good chances in games so it was nice to put one away and hopefully I can keep scoring from now on.

"I have always tried to improve my goalscoring. Even when I've been getting good chances of late I've not put them away so I started to think I need to score and I've managed to do that so I'm happy.

"I think if you score goals then it does give you more confidence.

"You have to keep working hard, keep doing the things you have been doing and it will pay off in the end.

"It is always nice, no matter what type of goal or when it is, to score goals personally and for the team.

"I think everyone is delighted with the performance and the result and for me, personally, I am delighted with the goal."

Progression to the last 32 could have been snatched away with the final kick of the game, however, as veteran forward Daniel di Natale fired over the crossbar.

That would have been harsh on a Liverpool side who, despite manager Brendan Rodgers' decision to field weakened teams throughout the competition, have grown over the months.

It could hardly be called a classic European away display as Udinese, who had Giovanni Pasquale sent off for a second bookable offence with 11 minutes to go, had too many chances but it was enough to guarantee involvement after Christmas.

< p>"I think overall we are pleased with the performance," added Henderson.

"We went into the game knowing we had to win to go through and that is what we managed to do and everyone is pleased with the outcome.

"We managed the game well and towards the second half we kept the ball quite well and we are delighted with the win.

"I think we deserved to win the game and go through. They had one or two chances and Di Natale had a good one at the end but fortunately for us it went over the crossbar.

"I think we are going from strength to strength every week and we are improving.

"It is important for Liverpool to be involved in the knockout stages of European competition.

"When February comes (and the competition restarts) we will have improved a hell of a lot and we can kick on from there but our main focus now is Sunday against West Ham.

"Hopefully the win will give everyone confidence going into that game."

Liverpool's pre-ma tch preparations for the Hammers clash were disrupted slightly when they were unexpectedly forced to stay overnight in Italy.

The team were scheduled to fly back to Liverpool on Thursday night but a problem with their plane meant they were unable to take off and they had to spend the night in a hotel.

Brendan Rodgers hails Jordan Henderson after hitting Liverpool's winner

The midfielder fired home his third Liverpool goal on 23 minutes to put the Reds top of Group A and into the last 32.

"He is a great lad and works hard and has come in over the last month and made a good contribution to the team," said Rodgers.

"It was a very good finish and he was unfortunate not to get a second goal as the goalkeeper made a wonderful save.

"He has that quality to arrive in the box and he has a finish in him so I am delighted for him and his hard work is paying off."

Udinese's hopes of an equaliser looked bleak when Giovanni Pasquale was shown a second yellow card with 10 minutes remaining.

However, the hosts almost snatched a draw that would have eliminated Liverpool with the last kick of the game, captain Antonio Di Natale blasting over the bar.

"Hopefully it is a sign we have a little bit of luck going our way because maybe a couple of months back that would have gone in and we would be out of the competi tion," said Rodgers.

"There was no margin for error tonight. I felt we had to win the game because we were in a difficult group against good teams.

"Over the course of all the games, how we have played and progressed through the tournament I think we are deserved winners of the group."

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Pulis rules out Begovic sale

Reports have suggested that Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in the Bosnia international, who as an ever-present for the Potters in their 15 Premier League games this term has conceded only 12 goals and kept seven clean sheets.

Begovic was quoted earlier this week as saying he is happy to stay at Stoke and on Thursday morning Pulis, speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Aston Villa, stressed his determination to keep hold of all his star men for the rest of the season.

Asked about the speculation linking Begovic with a move, Pulis said: "If a big club comes in for any of our players, then it is very difficult to say 'no, we are not going to do it.'

"You can talk as much as you want, though - one thing I will say is that it is a big year for us this year and we will not be selling any of our better players in the January window, and that is full stop.

"It is a massive year for every club in the Premier League and this football club realises and recognises that.

"You hope you get interest because it shows the player is playing really well.

"But there will be no sales. We will be looking to bring one or two in, but there will be no sales of any of the big players at this football club during the window."

Begovic had been quoted as saying: "As far as I know it's all speculation. It's always nice when the biggest teams in the world are looking at you.

"It's a compliment, but it doesn't mean anything.

"We keep our feet on the ground here and the manager wouldn't let that change.

"I have three-and-a-half years on my contract and I am concentrating on playing and staying in the team and trying to help the team be successful.

"I am happy here so there are no issues with that."

The 25-year-old joined Stoke from Portsmouth in 2010.

Meanwhile, Pulis is hopeful that striker Peter Crouch will be able to return to action against Villa.

Crouch , who missed last weekend's 1-0 victory at West Brom after losing some teeth in a collision with Newcastle's Fabricio Coloccini in the previous match, has had a mouth guard fitted and will be monitored in training ahead of the clash at Villa Park.

"He had a guard fitted yesterday down in London, he will try it today and we will see how he goes," Pulis said.

"We are hoping he will be okay and that that will be enough protection for him to be able to play on Saturday."

Fernando Llorente has confirmed he intends to leave Athletic Bilbao in the summer

Llorente turned down the offer of a new deal at the Primera Liga club over the summer and said he wanted to leave, but Bilbao refused to negotiate with interested sides.

The Spain international, who has previously been linked with Juventus and Arsenal, has found himself relegated to the bench so far this season, starting one league game and scoring a single goal.

After failing to persuade him to stay, Bilbao could chose to sell the 27-year-old in January rather than lose him on a free transfer in the summer, with Juve thought to be planning a winter swoop for the striker.

He said: "I am going to leave on June 30. I want to develop as a player and try something new."

Llorente, who made his senior debut with Bilbao in January 2005 after coming through their youth academy, was the club's top scorer last season with 17 goals in 32 league appearances.

The uncertainty over his future has made him a target of abuse from some sections of Bi lbao's fans and he added: "It isn't about money because the offer the club made was irresistible.

"The media have not helped with the negotiations and it is one of the things that has generated the bad atmosphere around me out on the pitch. This has encouraged me not to renew my contract; this and many other things.

"I took the decision when I went out for the first Europa League game at San Mames (in August).

"Most of what has come out in the press is lies and this has turned people against me. This has meant when I run out on to the pitch people whistle at me. There is a sector of the crowd who do not want me but I feel loved by the majority."