Star duo miss Trabzon trip

Liverpool will be without star duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres for their Europa League trip to Trabzonspor, Roy Hodgson today confirmed.

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Gerrard has a back problem while the club has decided not to risk Torres playing a third successive game following his injury troubles.

Both are expected to be fit for Sunday's clash with West Bromwich Albion.

Hodgson will also be without Daniel Agger (concussion) and Maxi Rodriguez (illness) for the jaunt to Turkey.

The boss told Liverpoolfc.tv: "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.

"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."

To watch our exclusive chat with the boss click on the play button below>>

Hodgson added: "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."

Meanwhile, Hodgson admits his side faces a tough challenge against Trabzonspor after failing to kill off the tie at Anfield last week.

The game finished 1-0 - but the gaffer knows the Turks will be a different proposition in their own backyard.

"We missed a golden opportunity to kill the game off at Anfield and now we've got it all to do," he said. "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 length of the journey east means Hodgson will have little time to prepare his side for Sunday's clash with West Brom.

He added: "It's hard - there's no question about that. 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.

"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."

Liverpool squad v Trabzonspor: Reina, Gulacsi, Hansen, Johnson, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Krygiakos, Aurelio, Cole, Spearing, Poulsen, Lucas, Pacheco, Shelvey, Babel, Kuyt, Ngog, Eccleston.

Don't forget to catch the second leg of our crucial UEFA Europa League qualifier against Trabzonspor live on ESPN this Thursday from 6.00pm. For more information on how you can get ESPN visit espn.co.uk/tv