The Denmark international is likely to miss the Merseyside derby clash with Everton on January 28 after limping out of the FA Cup victory over Oldham Athletic on Sunday

Liverpool are set to be without centre-back Daniel Agger for up to four weeks after the defender was ruled out of action with a calf strain.

The Denmark international was substituted with the injury in the closing stages of an FA Cup third round win over Oldham Athletic last Sunday.

Agger posted on Twitter: “Disappointed with my injury! But I hope to be back strong within 4 weeks! Thanks for all the supporting tweets. ynwa.”

The centre-back, who has been in and out of Brendan Rodgers’ starting XI this season, is set to miss the Merseyside derby clash with Everton at Anfield on January 28.

Agger also misses the club’s next two games against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium and at home to Aston Villa, as well as an FA Cup tie with either Bournemouth or Burton Albion.

But the Dane could be available in time to face Premier League leaders Arsenal at Anfield on February 8.

The Liverpool striker notched 10 goals last month as the Reds moved top for Christmas Day, while Manchester City went unbeaten and won six of their seven matches

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been named Barclays Premier League Player of the Month for December, while Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini has scooped the managers’ gong.

Suarez started and ended the month on a sour note, with defeats at Hull City, Manchester City and Chelsea, but was in blistering form for the four intervening matches, scoring 10 goals.

Those include four in one match against Norwich City on December 4, two against West Ham, two in a superb performance at Tottenham which spelled the end for Andre Villas-Boas at White Hart Lane, and two against Cardiff City.

Those goals helped put the Reds top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day, although they had slipped to fifth by New Year’s Eve.

Maiden gong | Pellegrini claims his first monthly accolade in England (Barclays)

Pellegrini has been recognised as December’s best manager after guiding his side to an unbeaten month, with six wins from seven games.

Southampton were the only side to stop City winning last month, claiming a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s. But victories against Swansea, West Brom, Arsenal, Fulham, Liverpool and Crystal Palace make the Chilean the obvious choice.

Those results leave City only one point behind table-toppers Arsenal, who were beaten 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium on December 14.

Goal takes a look at the best players to select or avoid, the bargain buys and the top choice for captain’s double points ahead of the Premier League action this gameweek

Alvaro Negredo (8) heads into Sunday’s fixture against Newcastle on the back of a hat-trick against West Ham in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday evening. With Sergio Aguero (10.5) only returning to training this week, the 28-year-old is set to lead the line for Manuel Pellegrini’s side and we are backing him to continue his scoring run as City have the chance to finish Sunday at the top of the Premier League.

Tottenham are unbeaten in the league since Tim Sherwood replaced Andre Villas-Boas and Christian Eriksen (7.5) has been one of the side’s key figures since the managerial change. The Denmark international has registered 21 points in the last four gameweeks and, in such an advanced role which enables him to link up with Emmanuel Adebayor, the midfielder is favourite to be involved in the chances created against Crystal Palace this Saturday.

With Theo Walcott’s season over, Mesut Ozil (10) possesses the quality to step forward once again and drive Arsenal’s title charge until the end of the season. The German missed two gameweeks due to a shoulder injury and only made a 15-minute cameo in the club’s FA Cup third-round win over Tottenham last Saturday. Since he’s been sufficiently rested, Ozil may have a high-scoring gameweek since he is facing a Aston Villa side who have the second-worst record at home in the Premier League this term.

Romelu Lukaku (7.5) has netted only once in seven Premier League outings and could face competition from Nikica Jelavic, who scored twice in the 4-0 win over QPR in the FA Cup on Saturday. But, given the fact that Everton need to keep pace with the top-four contenders and Norwich City, their opponents on Saturday, have conceded 22 goals in 10 away games, the Belgium international should be given plenty of chances to bolster his tally this gameweek.

Theo Walcott (9) has been ruled out for the season with a knee ligament injury and so needs to be shipped out of your side as soon as possible.

Daniel Agger (5.5) has suffered a calf injury and has been has been ruled out for around four weeks.

Branislav Ivanovic (6.5) continues to be sidelined with a knee injury. The Chelsea defender is not expected back until the end of January.

West Ham have not won in the Premier League since November 30 and their performances have been getting progressively worse. From Jussi Jaaskelainen (5) to Mohamed Diame (5) and Modibo Maiga (4.5), it is not worth having any of Sam Allardyce’s charges in your side at the moment.

Gary Hooper (6) has recorded 27 points from his last six gameweeks and may have slipped under the radar as a viable budget option. The forward’s form is worth keeping an eye on as Norwich face only one side (Manchester City) who are currently in the top four over the next 14 gameweeks.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer takes charge of his first Premier League game as Cardiff City manager this Saturday as his side host West Ham. With Sam Allardyce’s side struggling to find cohesion in attack, a clean sheet for Cardiff could be on the cards. David Marshall (4) and Steven Caulker (4.5) both offer good value as rotation options as their next two games after the West Ham fixture are away to Manchester City and Manchester United.

Danny Rose (4) looks set to become a regular fixture at left-back for Tim Sherwood and Tottenham after recovering from injury and offers a cheap defensive pick for those who are looking at sides competing for a top-four place.

Negredo (8) has been handed the armband this week since he heads into Sunday’s fixture after hitting a hat-trick against West Ham.

Newcastle should pose more of a defensive test than Allardyce’s charges but the Spaniard looked sharp on Wednesday evening and Alan Pardew’s men have failed to keep a clean sheet at home in their last five matches.

Luis Suarez (10), Eden Hazard (9.5) and Ozil (10) also offer tempting captain choices this gameweek.

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