Hodgson names young side for Europa League game

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson made 10 changes for their Europa League Group K clash against Steaua Bucharest in Romania as midfielder Joe Cole made his comeback after five weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Goalkeeper Jose Reina, the only player to survive from Sunday’s Barclays Premier League defeat to Tottenham, captained the side in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

Reserve team youngsters Jack Robinson and John Flanagan were named on the bench, the latter’s first appearance in the senior squad, as Hodgson put his faith in fringe players with eight first-teamers either injured or at home resting.

The Steaua side contained only six players who started the 4-1 defeat at Anfield in September.

Steaua Bucuresti: Tatarusanu, Eder, Geraldo, Gardos, Latovlevici, Gomes, Bicfalvi, Nicolita, Surdu, Tanase, Stancu.

Subs: Lungu, Emeghara, Abrudan, Szekely, Martinovic, Angelov, Matei.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Aurelio, Poulsen, Pacheco, Shelvey, Jovanovic, Cole, Babel.

Subs: Jones, Lucas, Ngog, Skrtel, Flanagan, Eccleston, Robinson.

Referee: Bulent Yildirim (Turkey)