Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson plans to make changes for the opening Europa League group match at home to Steaua Bucharest. The Reds boss will have one eye on Sunday's Premier League trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford and, as a result, may opt to rest captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres.
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Should that happen their likely replacements are new signing Raul Meireles and David Ngog. Midfielder Joe Cole, who has been serving a three-match domestic suspension, returns to the squad but Dirk Kuyt (shoulder) and Fabio Aurelio (Achilles) are definitely out.
Hodgson has dismissed speculation about Torres' state of mind after the striker was criticised on his last outing for the club. The Spain international had very few chances in Sunday's goalless draw at Birmingham. And despite scoring three times in his previous two matches for club and country, that did not stop wild theories being spouted about the 26-year-old being unhappy and regretting his decision to remain at Anfield this summer.
Former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp labelled Torres' performance at Birmingham "diabolical" and claimed the player looked frustrated, but Hodgson was quick to reject that assessment out of hand. "He certainly isn't fed up. Criticism is something we have to live with," said Hodgson.
"We bear strong expectations at this club and everyone is interested in us.We fill newspapers and airtime and of course everything that happens at the club is put under the microscope and that includes players' performances.
"Fernando Torres has no problem with that. He is an excellent player. He is very much committed and focused on this season.I think it is very wrong for people to read someone's state of mind from watching them play 90 minutes' football.
"You have to be some wonder psychologist to be able to do that.I can't watch a player play and tell you what state of mind he is in."
Despite his backing for Torres there is a chance he and Gerrard may not start against Steaua Bucharest as Hodgson admits he is looking to utilise his squad. Having learned his lessons from his run to the Europa League final last season with Fulham, Hodgson is keen to avoid the pitfalls of over-playing people too early in the campaign.
"It is up to me to try to choose a team which will win the game and possibly give some of the players needed to play against Manchester United a well-deserved break," he said.
"I will use games in Europa League and Carling Cup in order to try to get a better knowledge of he players to make certain, as time goes on, I have no doubts what our best XI is.Dirk Kuyt is out and Fabio Aurelio we have to wait for but we are not picking up injuries so I have quite a big squad to choose from.
"Everyone in the country understands that to play the number of games we and teams like ourselves have to play you have to change the team.What I don't really understand is how every time you change the team and they do not win the selection is criticised."
Source: DSG
