Liverpool defender Johnson out for at least a month with groin injury

Published Dec. 17, 2014 6:12 a.m. ET

foxsports

Glen Johnson will be out for at least a month after injuring his groin in defeat to Manchester United at the weekend.

The Liverpool full-back was replaced by Kolo Toure during the first half of United's 3-0 win and later revealed he had suffered a torn muscle.

Johnson, who will be out of contract next June, is now facing a second significant spell out this season 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 past 10 games.

There are alternatives available to Rodgers, who has used Johnson on both flanks this season and has options: 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 both 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.