Gerrard rested, Cole starts for Prague clash

Liverpool have chosen not to risk captain Steven Gerrard but Joe Cole will start as Liverpool chase a place in the Europa League last 16 tonight.

Gerrard has been given more time to recover after two games out with a groin injury but Cole, after an indifferent start to his Liverpool career, will start as Sparta Prague visit Anfield.

It is only the Chelsea midfielder’s first start since Kenny Dalglish took charge of the club seven weeks ago.

Dalglish makes three other changes as Liverpool look to build on their goalless draw in the first leg in the Czech Republic last week.

Daniel Agger, Christian Poulsen and Martin Kelly all come in while Jamie Carragher is left on the bench while Glen Johnson drops out of the squad altogether.

Sparta, featuring former Reading midfielder Marek Matejovsky, make one change with midfielder Libor Sionko replacing Andrej Keric.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Agger, Wilson, Poulsen, Lucas, Kuyt, Meireles, Cole, Ngog. Subs: Gulacsi, Pacheco, Jovanovic, Maxi, Carragher, Spearing, Skrtel.

Sparta Prague: Blazek, Kusnir, Repka, Brabec, Pamic, Vacek, Sionko, Matejovsky, Abena, Kadlec, Kweuke. Subs: Zitka, Podany, Kladrubsky, Zeman, Husek, Keric, Pekhart.