Chairman Tom Werner says the Liverpool board has "great confidence" in manager Kenny Dalglish.

Director of football Damien Comolli has left the club by mutual consent and Peter Brukner, head of sports science and medicine, has also departed.

But Werner said in an interview on the club's official website: external-link "We've got great confidence in Kenny.

"We feel the team is going to make strides in the future and he enjoys our full support."

Liverpool's 2011 buys Luis Suarez (£22.8m)

Andy Carroll (£35m)

Jordan Henderson (£16m)

Charlie Adam (£8m)

Stewart Downing (£20m)

Alexander Doni (Free)

Jose Enrique (£5m)

Sebastian Coates (£6m)

Craig Bellamy (Free)

Total: £112.8m

Dalglish has overseen a difficult season with Liverpool eighth in the Premier League, having won only two of their last 14 matches, and set to miss out on qualification for next season's Champions League.

They have enjoyed more success in cup competitions but after a disappointing league campaign, coming on the back of major investment last summer, Comolli is heading for the exit door.

"I would say we certainly have the resources to compete with anybody in football," added Werner.

"We feel there is enough talent on the pitch to win and, as I said, we've been dissatisfied, as most supporters have been, with the results so far.

"But we're also talking about the future - we have a strategy we need implemented and we felt Damien was probably not the right person to implement that strategy."

Liverpool, who won the Carling Cup earlier this season, face an FA Cup semi-final against local rivals Everton at Wembley on Saturday, which captain Steven Gerrard says can turn around their season.

And chairman Werner insisted: "The club needs to move forward - we now have a huge game on Saturday. It is important that everyone joins us in supporting the manager and gets behind Kenny [Dalglish] and the team and focuses on a strong finish to the season."

Comolli was appointed by club co-owners John W Henry and Werner following their takeover of the club in September 2010.

Analysis Mark Lawrenson BBC Sport football expert From the outside, Comolli was involved in all those deals involving Henderson, Downing, Carroll and Adam. I'm not really sure whether he has paid the price for Liverpool's poor form. Only the football club and Kenny Dalglish can answer that. But people like Downing, Henderson and Adam have been, at best, average for Liverpool this year. So, yes, it may well be the case.

He oversaw a major spending spree which included the signings of Andy Carroll for £35m and Luis Suarez for £22.7m, while the Reds also paid a combined £36m for Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing and Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson.

Dalglish said: "Comolli has been really helpful in every transfer target that we've gone for.

"Everyone who has come into the club since Damien has been here was of my choice.

"Once I made the choice who I wanted, Damien went away and did a fantastic job of bringing them in.

"It's sad to see anyone leave the football club and he goes with my best wishes."

Comolli said: "I am happy to move on from the club and go back to France for family reasons.

"I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to work at Liverpool. I wish the club all the best for the future."