Liverpool Suffer Injury Blow Ahead Of Key Arsenal Clash

Liverpool have suffered an injury blow today with experienced defender Glen Johnson ruled out for a month after picking up a groin injury against Manchester United, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Johnson was forced off midway through the first half during Liverpool’s disappointing 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon after seemingly picking up a groin problem.

Brendan Rodgers has been awaiting further news on the injury but the Liverpool Echo claim this afternoon that the 30-year-old has torn his groin and will now be on the sidelines for the next month.

The full-back will have a further scan to determine the full extent of the problem but it now looks like Johnson will miss tomorrow’s Capital One Cup clash with Bournemouth as well as Sunday’s huge clash with top-four rivals Arsenal, and if he does miss the full month, he would also sit out subsequent games against Burnley, Swansea, Leicester, AFC Wimbledon and Sunderland over the festive period.

Johnson is certainly a player that divides opinion among the Liverpool fanbase and the news of his injury has been met with celebration by some sections of the Merseysiders support.

However, whatever the fans think of him, Rodgers clearly rates Johnson as he’s started in 15 of Liverpool’s last 18 games in all competitions, making him one of the most ever-present players in recent months.

During his absence, on-loan youngster Javier Manquillo should deputise at right-back although Kolo Toure filled-in against United so Rodgers may go with the experienced Ivorian against his former club at the weekend.