Source: Daily_Mail
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres out of Liverpool's clash with Trabzonspor
Liverpool must navigate the choppy waters of their return Europa League clash in Turkey without key duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.[LNB]The pair have both been ruled out of the crunch play-off clash with Trabzonspor on Thursday.[LNB]The Reds hold a slender 1-0 lead as they bid to avoid a humiliating early exit without their two key players.[LNB] Enlarge Enlarge Out: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will miss the clash[LNB] And defeat would pile the pressure on Roy Hodgson whose side have taken just one point from their opening two Barclays Premier League games.[LNB]Hodgson has decided against risking Torres in a third consecutive game, while Gerrard has a back problem. Wantaway midfielder Javier Mascherano will also be absent as he attempts to push through a move to Barcelona.[LNB]Hodgson said: 'We missed a golden opportunity to kill the game offat Anfield and now we've got it all to do.[LNB] Fine finish: Ryan Babel hands Liverpool their slender lead in first leg at Anfield[LNB]'It's going to bea very tough ask for the players in a difficult place. They are one ofthe two or three best teams in Turkey at the moment and Turkishfootball is of a very high standard.[LNB]'Everyone who's been to Trabzon tells me it's a remarkably difficultplace to play. They're a hostile and fanatic crowd and it's a difficultpitch. But if we come through it we'll come through it stronger.'[LNB]Ryan Babel bagged the winner in the first leg last week but Joe Cole's penalty miss means the tie remains finely balanced. [LNB] Ready for action: Joe Cole - seen here leaving a restaurant with wife Carly on Tuesday night - will be hoping to make amends for his penalty miss in the first leg [LNB]And the extensive injury list - which also includes Maxi Rodriguez and Daniel Agger - means Liverpool's task will be made all the more difficult. [LNB]Hodgson said: 'Steven Gerrard unfortunately has had a recurrence of the back problem which he gets from time to time but hopefully it won't stophim 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]Liverpool squad Reina, Johnson, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Cole, Spearing, Poulsen, Lucas, Pacheco, Shelvey, Babel, Kuyt, Ngog, Eccleston, Gulacsi, Hansen. [LNB]'Agger played in the game on Monday (the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City) whichwas 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] Liverpool misift Javier Mascherano will cost you £18m cash, Barcelona told Cole and Gomez on Liverpool's radar as Hodgson eyes striking duo Forget the title Arsene, scoffs Jose, Arsenal are simply not good enoughLIVERPOOL FC
