Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that midfielder Adam Lallana still needs "more minutes" before being ready to hold down a place in the starting lineup.
Lallana has missed the majority of the campaign with a thigh injury but last weekend, the playmaker came off the bench to get 19 minutes under his belt in the 4-0 victory at Bournemouth.
Klopp has acknowledged that he is pleased to have the 29-year-old back in his squad, but suggests that the England international will not be in the starting lineup when Liverpool face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night.
The 50-year-old told reporters: "He's back and that's good. He needs more minutes and we have to see how we managed that. He's not ready for three games of 90 minutes in a row, but he is ready to help us in a specific way.
"Hopefully we can build up his match fitness and that's the only thing he is missing now. When he was on the pitch, everyone could see the player he is."
Liverpool must play four matches in 11 days over the Christmas and New Year period.
Darren Plant
