Lallana absence to be keenly felt
BIG BLOW: ENGLAND MIDFIELDER OUT FOR FOUR WEEKS
Liverpool defend great record against their deadly rivals.
Adam Lallana’s thigh injury is a significant setback for Juergen Klopp as he seeks to strengthen Liverpool’s Champions League qualification chances with victory over Everton in today’s Merseyside derby.
Lallana is expected to be out for a month, having suffered the injury during the closing stages of England’s 2-0 victory over Lithuania at Wembley last Sunday.
The former Southampton midfielder has been one of the most reliable performers this season in a Liverpool side who have lacked consistency, and his absence will be felt keenly as Reds boss Klopp attempts to secure a top-four Premier League finish.
They are fourth, with a fourpoint advantage over Manchester United in fifth.
United do have two games in hand, but that is no guarantee they will make up the gap, as they have matches at Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham before the end of the season.
Liverpool’s form going into the international break was encouraging; home wins over Arsenal and Burnley were followed by a draw at Manchester City, and they will start favourites against Everton, who have not won at Anfield since September 1999.
Sadio Mane’s goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time gave the Reds a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park in December, and a win today would secure a first league double over their local rivals since 2011-12.
Liverpool will be helped by the likely return of Jordan Henderson after more than a month out with a foot injury, with the England midfielder back in full training during the international break.
Everton have injury problems of their own as they are without defender Seamus Coleman, who broke his leg in horrific circumstances while playing for the Republic of Ireland last week.
Coleman is likely to be out for between nine and 12 months after his tibia and fibula bones were broken in an awful challenge by Wales defender Neil Taylor during the 0-0 draw in Dublin.
Images of the challenge showed just how bad the injury was, although the Everton rightback had successful surgery last Saturday, and the club are confident he will make a full recovery.
That was not the only injury setback for Everton, with midfielder James McCarthy suffering a recurrence of a hamstring problem. He was withdrawn from the side to face Wales shortly before kick-off.
Despite those problems, Ronald Koeman’s side are in good spirits, lying seventh, just six points behind Liverpool.
Everton have not beaten Liverpool home or away since October 2010 – a run of 13 derbies in all competitions without a win. –