Liverpool have lost another senior player for the start of the new Premier League season after scans revealed Glen Johnson suffered a hamstring strain against Valencia on Saturday.

The England defender pulled up seven minutes into the Anfield friendly and, with Fabio Capello watching from the stands, was not considered for Wednesday's international with Holland at Wembley. A scan on Sunday confirmed Johnson had suffered a hamstring strain and he is expected to be out for up to a fortnight, keeping him out of Saturday's opener at home to Sunderland and possibly the trip to Arsenal next weekend.

Kenny Dalglish will now be without three senior players against Sunderland with Johnson joining Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel on the sidelines. Liverpool's captain is currently recovering from an infection related to the groin operation he underwent in March while Skrtel has a calf problem, although the Slovakian defender has stepped up his rehabilitation in recent days.