Gerrard and Torres miss Turkey trip

Liverpool will be without captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres for their Europa League play-off second-leg tie against Trabzonspor in Turkey tomorrow.

Gerrard has a back problem while manager Roy Hodgson has decided not to risk Torres in a third successive game following his injury problems last season.

Defender Daniel Agger (concussion) and Maxi Rodriguez (illness) are also absent from the squad which travels to Turkey this morning with a 1-0 lead from the first leg.

Joe Cole, still serving a domestic suspension, returns to the squad after missing Monday’s Barclays Premier League defeat at Manchester City while Javier Mascherano has also been left out in the wake of a bid from Barcelona earlier this week.

Team (from): Reina, Johnson, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Cole, Spearing, Poulsen, Lucas, Pacheco, Shelvey, Babel, Kuyt, Ngog, Eccleston, Gulacsi, Hansen.