Premier League: Liverpool defender Glen Johnson out for at least a month with groin injury

Glen Johnson: Misses Christmas fixtures

Glen Johnson will be out of action for at least a month after tearing a groin muscle in Liverpool's defeat to Manchester United last weekend.

The England full-back was replaced by Kolo Toure during the first half of United's 3-0 Super Sunday win and later told Sky Sports he had suffered a tear to the muscle.

Johnson, who will be out of contract next June, is now facing a second significant spell on the sidelines after missing almost six weeks with a thigh injury in the autumn.

And Brendan Rodgers goes into Christmas without one of his most trusted defenders as he aims to turn around a run of form which has seen Liverpool win just two of their last 10 games.

There are alternatives available to Rodgers, who has used Johnson on both flanks this season. Javi Manquillo has started nine times in the Premier League and is the obvious choice to fill in at right-back, while Alberto Moreno and Jose Enrique have played at left-back in recent weeks.

And Jon Flanagan, a regular in the second half of last season, is on his way back after a knee injury.