LIVERPOOL have jetted out to Turkey for their crucial Europa League play-off without their inspirational captain and leading goalscorer.
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were the highest profile absentees from the 20-man squad that left John Lennon Airport this morning bound for Trabzon.
Gerrard has a slight back problem and though it is not serious, it was decided two long flights and another 90 minutes is not what he needs at this stage of the season.
He is expected to be fit for Sunday’s Premier League clash at Anfield but manager Roy Hodgson did not want to risk him for the game with Trabzonspor.
Torres, meanwhile, is being nursed back to full fitness after injuring himself in the World Cup final and Hodgson does not want to overuse him too soon.
The Spaniard played for 78 minutes in Monday’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, four days after a lively 45-minute cameo in their first leg against Trabzonspor.
Milan Jovanovic also misses out for the first time in a competitive game since joining the Reds this summer after he picked up a slight foot problem against City; Daniel Agger is another to have stayed at home. Joe Cole, however, has travelled after missing the trip to Eastlands because of suspension and will be eager to atone for missing a penalty at Anfield last week that could have made this trip a little less demanding.
Dirk Kuyt was also on board the Reds’ flight, despite ongoing speculation linking him with a reunion with his former boss Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan.
One notable omission, though, was Javier Mascherano, who refused to play in Monday night’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
The Argentine midfielder trained at Melwood yesterday with a small group of players who had sat out the game at the City of Manchester Stadium.
He has not been the subject of any disciplinary measures for the action he took but it is now almost inevitable Mascherano will join Barcelona.
Barca manager Pep Guardiola has admit- ted he is looking for a defensive midfielder but would not comment when pressed on Mascherano.
“If a defensive midfielder arrives the needs of the team will be resolved,” he said.
“If one arrives I will be satisfied.
“You’ll have to ask (Andoni) Zubizarreta (Barca’s sporting director).
“I will only speak about (Mascherano) when he’s here, if he comes.”
Full squad: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Lucas, Kuyt, Babel, Cole, Kelly, Ngog, Spearing, Poulsen, Shelvey, Kelly, Skrtel, Gulacsi, Ecclestone, Hansen.
