Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has revealed that neither Fernando Torres nor Steven Gerrard are included in the Reds squad that will travel to Trabzonspor for the second leg of their Europa League tie on Thursday.
Both players are expected to be fit for Sunday's clash with West Bromwich Albion, however. Winger Maxi Rodriguez is unwell, whilst defender Daniel Agger is still suffering from concussion.
"Steven Gerrard unfortunately has had a recurrence of the back problem which he gets from time to time. Hopefully it won't stop him playing on Sunday," Hodgson told his club's official website.
"The same applies to Agger for Sunday. He played in the game on Monday which was to some extent against medical advice. He wanted to play but felt a bit sick after the game. That's mainly due to the concussion he suffered, so it would be foolish for us to risk him on Thursday.
"Maxi is sick. He's in bed at the moment with a bit of gastroenteritis, so he's out of the question.
"With Fernando Torres we've made the decision that we don't wish to risk him three games in a row at this stage of the season with him having done so well to get back this quickly."
Liverpool take a 1-0 lead to Turkey from the first leg of the tie at Anfield. Hodgson acknowledges that he would have liked to be travelling on the back of a more substantial lead.
"We missed a golden opportunity to kill the game off at Anfield and now we've got it all to do," he added.
"It's going to be a very tough ask for the players in a difficult place. They are one of the two or three best teams in Turkey at the moment and Turkish football is of a very high standard.
"Everyone who's been to Trabzon tells me it's a remarkably difficult place to play. They're a hostile and fanatic crowd and it's a difficult pitch.
"But if we come through it we'll come through it stronger."
The long trip east also presents its problems, with the Reds left with little time to prepare for the game against the Baggies on Sunday.
"It's hard - there's no question about that," he acknowledged.
"This Europa League is in some ways harder on a squad than the Champions League because you get more teams from the far eastern part of Europe," Hodgson admitted.
"Then you are playing Sunday-Thursday-Sunday, so you need a very big squad.
"The best way for this not to impact upon our league form is to win the game."
Both players are expected to be fit for Sunday's clash with West Bromwich Albion, however. Winger Maxi Rodriguez is unwell, whilst defender Daniel Agger is still suffering from concussion.
"Steven Gerrard unfortunately has had a recurrence of the back problem which he gets from time to time. Hopefully it won't stop him playing on Sunday," Hodgson told his club's official website.
"The same applies to Agger for Sunday. He played in the game on Monday which was to some extent against medical advice. He wanted to play but felt a bit sick after the game. That's mainly due to the concussion he suffered, so it would be foolish for us to risk him on Thursday.
"Maxi is sick. He's in bed at the moment with a bit of gastroenteritis, so he's out of the question.
"With Fernando Torres we've made the decision that we don't wish to risk him three games in a row at this stage of the season with him having done so well to get back this quickly."
Liverpool take a 1-0 lead to Turkey from the first leg of the tie at Anfield. Hodgson acknowledges that he would have liked to be travelling on the back of a more substantial lead.
"We missed a golden opportunity to kill the game off at Anfield and now we've got it all to do," he added.
"It's going to be a very tough ask for the players in a difficult place. They are one of the two or three best teams in Turkey at the moment and Turkish football is of a very high standard.
"Everyone who's been to Trabzon tells me it's a remarkably difficult place to play. They're a hostile and fanatic crowd and it's a difficult pitch.
"But if we come through it we'll come through it stronger."
The long trip east also presents its problems, with the Reds left with little time to prepare for the game against the Baggies on Sunday.
"It's hard - there's no question about that," he acknowledged.
"This Europa League is in some ways harder on a squad than the Champions League because you get more teams from the far eastern part of Europe," Hodgson admitted.
"Then you are playing Sunday-Thursday-Sunday, so you need a very big squad.
"The best way for this not to impact upon our league form is to win the game."
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