Wednesday 1 December 2010

Steaua Bucharest v Liverpool Match Preview

Liverpool FC today travelled to Romania to face Steaua Bucharest in tomorrow night’s Europa League match.

They travel without the likes of captain Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher due to injury, placing the captaincy in the hands of keeper Pepe Reina.

The team also left without Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles and Glen Johnson so they can remain rested and fit for Monday night’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Summer signing Danny Wilson will take the place of Carragher in what will be his second game for the Reds whil Ryan Babel and Milan Jovanovic are also expected to start.

Midfielder Joe Cole is expected to make his first appearance after a hamstring injury left him out for five weeks.

Younger players such as Daniel Pacheco and Nathan Eccleston have also travelled with the team and will take advantage of the European night to show manager Roy Hodgson what they are capable of.

The final side decided to play against Steaua tomorrow night is expected to be a weaker side, but Hodsgon says it gives the younger players a chance to shine.

Hodgson told BBC: “I have faith in the young players and whatever happens on Thursday night I won't lose faith in them.”

“But it's an opportunity for them to force their way into my attention even more.”

Liverpool need only one point from the group stages of the Europa League to ensure a place in the knockout stages.

Steaua Bucharest will do everything they can to stop this though as they look to redeem themselves after a 4-1 defeat at Anfield last September.

A win for Steaua will make them tied in points with Liverpool on the Group K table and closer to that knockout round spot.

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