Lalla's KO misery
LIVERPOOL have been dealt a hammer blow with the news that Adam Lallana is out of the Merseyside derby.
The midfielder is facing four weeks out with a thigh injury he suffered on Sunday during England’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania. He has also been ruled out of Liverpool’s next two games at home to Bournemouth and away to Stoke, and may not be back until May.
That is sure to infuriate Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, as Lallana (right) played the full 90 minutes at Wembley despite being injured towards the end of the game.
He also played for over an hour against Germany last week. To make matters worse it is the second time the 28-year-old has been injured on international duty. In November he damaged his groin in a 2-2
draw with Spain and missed three games for his club.
Lallana has scored seven goals and has seven assists in a stellar season for the Reds.
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, who has not played since February 11 with a foot injury, also faces a race to be fit for the derby clash.
Meanwhile, Blues captain Phil Jagielka has urged Everton to break their 18-year Anfield hoodoo for stricken team-mate Seamus Coleman.
Full-back Coleman could be out for up to a year as he recovers from a double leg break suffered during the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Wales last Friday.
Everton have been told the 28-year-old will make a full recovery, but he faces a long road back to fitness after having surgery in Dublin on Saturday.
The Toffees have not won at Anfield since September 1999, when Kevin Campbell’s early winner was followed by three red cards, including one for a young Steven Gerrard.
Jagielka said: “There’ll be no incentive needed but with the circumstances over the last few days, that might add a bit of a motivational edge on our behalf.
“We want to go out there and play well and it will be nice if we can all get to speak to Seamus beforehand. Seamus is a massive part of the furniture. He’s been here a long time now, he’s one of the leaders.
“All we can do is be there for him. He’s had the operation, it’s been a success and he’s on the slow road to recovery.
“As a club, a family, we have wished him a speedy recovery and will be with him every step of the way.
“Hopefully we can get him smiling around the club as soon as possible.”