Johnson woe gives Benitez dilemma

LIVERPOOL defender Glen Johnson’s knee injury presents manager Rafael Benitez with yet another issue to resolve just as it seemed a more settled side was starting to get its season back on track.

The right-back tore the medial ligament in his right knee during Tuesday’s crucial last-gasp 1-0 victory over Aston Villa.

Johnson, an £18 million (€20m) summer signing from Portsmouth, was just settling back into the side having been sidelined by a hamstring problem.

His absence, expected to be at least a month but possibly more, leaves a huge hole in Liverpool’s defence which Benitez will struggle to fill adequately.

“Johnson has a problem, so he’ll see a specialist and then we’ll talk but we know he’ll be out for at least one month,” said the manager.

“But we are waiting for another opinion and then we’ll know how long.”

Right-back has been a troublesome position for Benitez for longer than this season, with the likes of Steve Finnan and Alvaro Arbeloa doing decent but not brilliant jobs.

The arrival of Johnson in the summer appeared to have rectified the problem and the England international began with two goals in his first four matches.

However, what the 25-year-old offered the side from an attacking point of view was somewhat negated as criticism began to grow over his defensive capabilities.

Injuries then compounded his problems, and Johnson’s form has dipped in the last couple of months. But how much the full-back will be missed will be highlighted in the next month as Benitez considers his options.

The most likely option is to move Jamie Carragher from central defence to fill a role he is not entirely comfortable with but which he has already performed this season in Johnson’s absence.

Alternatively, the manager could call on Swiss international Philipp Degen, who has struggled to settle in after injury wrecked his first season having signed in the summer of 2008.

An even bolder move by Benitez would be to give Stephen Darby, 21, an extended run in the side with the other option being 19-year-old Martin Kelly – who made his first start in the Champions League defeat at home to Lyon in October – who is currently sidelined with injury.

However, it seems unlikely the Liverpool boss will look to the transfer window to solve his problems, even for a short-term loan, as he has only a very limited budget to work with and more pressing priorities elsewhere.

The fitness of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard continue to be a concern and if Benitez is to strengthen anywhere in January it is likely to be on the forward line.

On the positive front, the Reds manager is hopeful of having winger Albert Riera back from a hamstring problem within the next few days.

“Riera will start training tomorrow, so hopefully in the next week he can be available,” said Benitez.