Roy Hodgson has left Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard out of the squad flying to Italy today for Thursday’s Europa League game against Napoli.
Hodgson had hinted earlier in the week that he would leave the more senior players out of the trip to Naples with Sunday’s must-win Premier League clash at home to Blackburn Rovers in mind. Lucas and Raul Meireles are also left out of the squad.
Hodgson is forced to leave Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger back on Merseyside, with Dirk Kuyt also sidelined for the next few weeks. Christian Poulsen returns to the squad after missing Sunday’s Merseyside Derby defeat to Everton.
There are places in the squad for Danny Wilson and Nathan Eccleston, who both scored in Liverpool Reserves’ 3-3 draw with Blackburn Reserves on Tuesday night.
Liverpool squad vs Napoli: Reina, Jones, Hansen, Konchesky, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Wilson, Carragher, Kelly, Spearing, Poulsen, Shelvey, Maxi, Babel, Jovanovic, Pacheco, Eccleston, Cole, Ngog.
Napoli were held 1-1 by Catania in their last Serie A outing on Sunday. Edinson Cavani opened the scoring for the visitors before an equaliser from Alejandro Gomez for Catania.
Napoli vs Liverpool gets underway at 6pm on Thursday night.
