Liverpool are set to field some of star players in
the second leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie against
Rabotnicki on Thursday.The Reds lead 2-0 from the first leg
in Macedonia and summer signing Joe Cole could make his first
competitive appearance for the Anfield club. "I will put out the strongest team possible," said manager Roy Hodgson. Fellow World Cup players Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher may feature too, along with Argentina's Maxi Rodriguez. Liverpool
are still without wantaway midfielder Javier Mascherano, as he was not
registered for the early stages of the competition, while Spain duo
Fernando Torres and Jose Reina and Netherlands pair Dirk Kuyt and Ryan
Babel will not be considered as they only returned to training this
week.
But the likes of Cole, captain Gerrard and Carragher may play after
featuring in the friendly match against Borussia Moenchengladbach at the
weekend. "We are stronger on paper than we were in the first
game because players that I did not consider using have now played at
least 45 minutes on Sunday," added Hodgson. "That gives me a
chance to throw them into the game. There are a few that are just back
to Melwood after their holidays and we won't be risking them of course. "If
they are senior players and they have been training with us for the
last week or so since we got back and the medical people are confident
we can use them without prejudicing their future we will use them." Rabotnicki
are set to name the same side as the one that lost in Skopje on
Thursday, but coach Zoran Stratev admits he is already resigned to their
fate. "Macedonian football is at this level and I don't think we
can do any more - but our fans may hope for something special in the
match," said Stratev.
Liverpool (from): Cavalieri, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Aurelio, Aquilani,
Gerrard, Jovanovic, Lucas, Cole, Ngog, Spearing, Kelly, Eccleston,
Pacheco, Darby, Insua, Rodriguez, Gulacsi, Shelvey.
