EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP A
Venue: Lokomotiv Stadium Date: Thursday. 8 November Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has left Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez out of his squad for the Europa League tie with Anzhi Makhachkala in Moscow.
Rodgers has opted not to take several first-team players, possibly with one eye on the Premier League game against Chelsea at the weekend.
Joe Allen, Nuri Sahin, Daniel Agger, Jose Reina, Glen Johnson and Raheem Sterling have not travelled.
Midfielder Joe Cole does make the trip to Russia.
The 30-year-old has struggled to force his way into the Reds first team this season, having made just four appearances.
Youngsters Stephen Sama, Adam Morgan and Conor Coady are all named in the travelling party.
“Everyone wants to play in the Premier League but this is a real opportunity to shine and show you can get into that team,” said Rodgers.
“We have already seen that this season Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom all started in the cup competitions and they are now regulars playing in the Premier League team.
“Every game is a platform. There is a great motivation there for the players but it is also the opportunity for them to prove they can play and obviously get themselves into that team.”
Liverpool are top of Europa League Group A with six points following wins over Young Boys and Thursday’s opponents Anzhi.
A victory at the Lokomotiv Stadium would virtually guarantee Liverpool’s place in the knockout stage.
Anzhi, meanwhile, are second in the group with four points, but could go above Liverpool with a victory.
Leading their attack is likely to be former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o, while Liverpool will also have to contend with the height of 6ft 8ins Lacina Traore.
Provisional squad: Jones, Wisdom, Carragher, Coates, Robinson, Shelvey, Henderson, Cole, Downing, Yesil, Assaidi, Gulacsi, Ward, Flanagan, Sama, Wilson, Coady, Suso, Morgan.
BBC Sport
