Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to miss Europa League clash
Liverpool today confirmed that captain Steven Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres are set to miss the club’s second leg UEFA Europa League play-off clash with Trabzonspor on Thursday.
Reds manager Roy Hodgson revealed that Gerrard had been suffering from a back problem while Torres is not yet fit enough to play in three games in a row after winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Spain over the summer and suffering from niggling injuries.
However, both players should be ready in time to face West Bromwich Albion as the team aim to kick-start their English Premier League campaign after winning just one point from the opening two fixtures
Hodgson told his club’s official website that: "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. 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."
Chance to kill off tie
Ryan Babel struck the only goal in the 1-0 first leg win at Anfield, but Joe Cole missed a penalty and the team as a whole failed to convert a raft of good chances to kill the tie off in the first leg.
Hodgson will also be without central defender Daniel Agger (concussion) and winger Maxi Rodriguez (illness) for the match in Turkey. The creative Cole has returned to the squad after missing Monday’s 3-0 EPL defeat at the hands of Manchester City through suspension after being sent off in the EPL opener against Arsenal, but Javier Mascherano has been left out as the holding midfielder seeks a move away from Merseyside.
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