ADAM LALLANA returned to training for Liverpool on Thursday as manager Jurgen Klopp prepared for Christmas without his shining star, Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian playmaker will sit out the festive period after suffering an ankle injury during last weekend’s 2-0 win over Sunderland.
His five goals and five assists had made him Liverpool’s most effective player in the Premier League this season but Lallana is not far behind in the rankings.
The England man has also provided five assists and had racked up three league goals before suffering a groin injury during a 2-2 draw with Spain in mid November.
He is now in line for a possible return to action at Bournemouth on Sunday.
Klopp and Liverpool remain on course for an EFL Cup final showdown with Jose Mourinho and Man United after their midweek quarter-final wins over Leeds and West Ham respectively.
But Man United’s win came at a price after a fifth yellow card of the season for Wayne Rooney means he’ll miss Sunday’s visit to former club Everton.
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Saturday, December 3
Man City v Chelsea (12:30pm)
A cracker to kick off the weekend with first placed Chelsea arriving at third placed City on the back of seven straight Premier League wins. Chelsea’s consistency has been built on sticking with the same starting XI for six of those matches in a row. Man City have drawn their past three home games in the league and it will be interesting to see if master tactician Pep Guardiola will try something special to counter the back three formation of the visitors. Jim’s prediction: Score draw.
Crystal Palace v Southampton (3pm)
It is not often you score four goals and still lose, but Palace managed that at struggling Swansea last weekend as Alan Pardew’s men suffered a sixth straight defeat. Surely a win is due? The Saints are bouyant after a midweek EFL quarter-final win at Arsenal but will have to roll their sleeves up here. Jim’s prediction: Home win.
Stoke City v Burnley (3pm)
Stoke have lost just one of their previous six games, though that was their last run out at home to Bournemouth. Burnley share the worst away record this season with Leicester, managing just one point and one goal in five games on the road. Jim’s prediction: Home win.
Sunderland v Leicester City (3pm)
Sunderland began November with their first away and home wins of the season but their mini revival came to a halt at Liverpool last weekend. While Leicester are flying in the Champions League they are in a bit of a flap in the Prem, with no wins from their last four games. Jim’s prediction: Home win
Tottenham v Swansea City (3pm)
Tottenham’s defeat at Chelsea last weekend was their first in the League this season, yet they’ve managed just one win in their last 10 matches in all competitions. Swansea collected their first win since the opening day of the season with that incredible 5-4 victory over Crystal Palace. Jim’s prediction: Home win
West Brom v Watford (3pm)
It’s been a tidy little run for the Baggies of late, two wins and a draw from their last three games helping them break into the top 10. Watford were tonked 6-1 by Liverpool in their last away game and lost at home to Stoke last weekend. Jim’s prediction: Home win
West Ham v Arsenal (5.30pm)
The Irons are under fire, with no wins in their last five games in all comps. Even star man Dimitri Payet looked jaded in the midweek 4-1 EFL Cup defeat at Man United. Not a good time then to welcome Arsenal, who plundered six wins and two draws from their last eight visits to the Boleyn Ground in the Premier League. Don’t expect the Olympic Stadium to bring any great change of luck for West Ham. Jim’s prediction: Away win
Sunday, December 4
Bournemouth v Liverpool (1.30pm)
Bournemouth’s usual high tempo performance was lacking in a 2-1 defeat by Sunderland in their last home match. Liverpool’s 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions has featured 12 wins with Divock Origi netting in each of the last two games. Jim’s prediction: Score draw
Everton v Man United (4pm)
There’s been just one win from the last nine games for Everton, while Man United have suffered just one defeat from their last eight. Zlatan Ibrahimovic rediscovered his scoring boots against West Ham, grabbing three goals in their recent League and Cup clashes. Jim’s prediction: Away win
Monday, December 5
Middlesbrough v Hull City (8pm)
It’s grim reading trawling through Boro’s results page, with one win to show from 12 games in all competitions. By comparison Hull’s fortunes are on the up, with one defeat in their last four and a place booked in this season’s EFL Cup semi-finals after a midweek penalty shootout victory over Newcastle. Jim’s prediction: No score draw
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