Southern set to take over from Adam

Former Everton midfielder Keith Southern is likely to replace Charlie Adam for Blackpool’s Boxing Day clash with Liverpool.

It is a match which, if the weather allows it to go ahead, sees Blackpool start looking for an unlikely “double” over the Merseysiders.

Adam is serving a one-match suspension and Southern’s more physical presence against the fit-again Steven Gerrard will probably edge him into the side over Ludovic Silvestre.

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway is desperate to see the game go ahead after his side’s last two home games were called off because of snow and frost.

The Bloomfield Road pitch remains covered but it is the only one in the Premier League without under-soil heating.

Holloway said: “We have to take into account the state of roads and footpaths around the ground when it comes to making a decision on the game – we really do want to play. We are itching for a game and so are the fans.”

Club chairman Karl Oyston has promised a pitch heating system will be installed this summer and he wants to increase the ground capacity by putting new corner seating areas linking the south, east and north stands.

Holloway, who nows lives on Pendle Hill – famous for its coven of Lancashire witches who were hanged in public, added: “I could do with casting a spell on the weather.”

“I have moved up here to show how committed I am to Blackpool FC and the chairman. We need to get our games in.”

“I don’t want a fixture pile up because we obviously don’t have the biggest squad around.”

“But there are loads of clubs in or around the 22-point mark and we don’t want to slip behind them just because we miss games.”

“But then again who would have said we are going into a match against a club like Liverpool looking to do the double? That really is some witchcraft.”