Source: Team_Talk
Reds without star duo for Turkey trip
iverpool will be without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres for Thursday's Europa League play-off second leg against Trabzonspor in Turkey.[LNB] Gerrard has a back problem while manager Roy Hodgson has decided not to risk Torres in a third successive game following his injury problems last season.[LNB]However, both are expected to be fit for Sunday's Premier League clash with West Brom at Anfield.[LNB]Defender Daniel Agger (concussion) and Maxi Rodriguez (illness) are also missing from the squad which travels to Turkey on Wednesday morning with a 1-0 lead from the first leg.[LNB]"Steven Gerrard unfortunately has had a recurrence of the back problem which he gets from time to time," said Hodgson.[LNB]"Hopefully it won't stop him playing on Sunday.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"Agger played in the game on Monday (the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City) which was to some extent against medical advice.[LNB]"He wanted to play but felt a bit sick after the game. That's mainly due to the concussion he suffered (against Arsenal), so it would be foolish for us to risk him.[LNB]"Maxi is sick. He's in bed at the moment with a bit of gastroenteritis, so he's out of the question."[LNB]Hodgson admits his side face a tough challenge against Trabzonspor after failing to put the match beyond reach at Anfield last week, with Joe Cole missing a penalty.[LNB]"We missed a golden opportunity to kill the game off at Anfield and now we've got it all to do," added the 62-year-old.[LNB]"It's going to be a very tough ask for the players in a difficult place.[LNB]"They are one of the two or three best teams in Turkey at the moment and Turkish football is of a very high standard.[LNB]"Everyone who's been to Trabzon tells me it's a remarkably difficult place to play.[LNB]"They're a hostile and fanatic crowd and it's a difficult pitch.[LNB]"But if we come through it we'll come through it stronger."[LNB]Joe Cole, still serving a domestic suspension, returns to the squad after missing Monday's defeat at Manchester City while Javier Mascherano has also been left out in the wake of a bid from Barcelona earlier this week.[LNB]Kick-off at the Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium is at 6.30pm BST.[LNB]Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Cole, Spearing, Poulsen, Lucas, Pacheco, Shelvey, Babel, Kuyt, Ngog, Eccleston, Gulacsi, Hansen.
