Source: PA
Hodgson taking long view
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson makes no apologies for putting long-term success in the Barclays Premier League ahead of progress in Europe.
The Reds left behind seven first-team players when they travelled to Turkey to face Trabzonspor in Thursday night's Europa League play-off second leg, which they lead only 1-0.
"In leaving a player like Torres out of this game to make sure he can play on Sunday (against West Brom) I am not capable of saying this is the priority," admitted Hodgson.
"We decided it would be unwise for him to travel as he played virtually a full game on Monday night, the situation with his knee [last season] and the fact he is still in a pre-season training programme.
"We don't wish to stress his knee unnecessarily, which is why it would be unwise to play him Monday-Thursday-Sunday - especially as he has been selected for Spain to play Argentina in the next international week. No-one wants to go out at this stage of the season but we've been handed the most difficult draw.
"The task will be a tough one but there is no doubt, come May, our league position will be of more interest than how well we fared in the Europa League so I don't make any apologies. But if we don't go through it will be because we won't have been good enough to secure our passage, or the attitude was wrong or the desire to progress was not there."
