Merseyside teams feel the pain of international break
Another international window, another costly break for some English clubs. Top of the list are Everton and Liverpool who are set to meet in the Merseyside derby this weekend.
Everton’s Seamus Coleman suffered a double break of his right leg during Ireland’s draw with Wales. The Republic’s captain fractured the tibia and fibula in his leg when he was tackled by Wales defender Neil Taylor, who was sent off.
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana will also miss the derby and could be out for up to a month after injuring a thigh on England duty.
The 28-year-old set up Jamie Vardy for England’s second goal in their win over Lithuania and has featured in 27 of Liverpool’s 29 Premier League games so far this season.
There is no time scale on Lallana’s recovery, but he could potentially miss five games while Coleman will not be in action again this season. ❚ Another gone for the season is Tottenham midfielder Erik Lamela who has been ruled out because of a hip injury. The 25-year-old Argentina international has not played for Spurs since October because of the problem and will undergo surgery on Saturday.
Tottenham said Lamela had ‘‘achieved a good level of function’’ but was not at a stage to make a return to training, leading to the decision to operate.
‘‘I tried everything to recover but my hip is still not 100%,’’ Lamela tweeted.
‘‘I can’t compete at the level I want to. I’ll face this challenge with a positive attitude and can’t wait to get back with the team and be stronger.’’ ❚ Manchester United, breathing hard on the necks of the three teams below Chelsea in the league, will be without Paul Pogba, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones for their Premier League game against West Brom at Old Trafford. Record signing Pogba, 24, has not recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered in the Europa League last-16 tie against FC Rostov.
Jones, 25, suffered a toe injury after colliding with Smalling in England training and could miss four weeks. Smalling, 27, also suffered a training injury while on international duty.
Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will also be absent as he serves the last week of his ban for elbowing an opponent. ❚ In a fine that would equate to less than a morning’s work for many of Manchester City’s first team players, the club was ordered to pay $62,000 by the Football Association for their players’ behaviour during their draw with Liverpool last round. The club admitted to misconduct for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.
It followed an incident ‘‘in or around the 50th minute’’, when referee Michael Oliver awarded Liverpool a penalty.
James Milner scored from the spot, with Sergio Aguero equalising on 69 minutes.
Expect the players to have learned their lesson. ❚ Weekend fixtures (UK time): Saturday, Man Utd v West Brom, Liverpool v Everton, Burnley v Tottenham, Chelsea v Crystal Palace, Hull v West Ham, Leicester v Stoke, Watford v Sunderland, Southampton v Bournemouth;
Sunday, Swansea v Middlesbrough, Arsenal v Man City.