Roy Hodgson has set Liverpool's second-string the challenge of a lengthy run in the Carling Cup – as he received a fitness boost from Dirk Kuyt.
The Anfield outfit embarks on the road to Wembley when they entertain npower League Two minnows Northampton Town in their third round tie.
As in the Europa League, Hodgson has once again decided to rest a clutch of key players with Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher and Raul Meireles among those absent from the starting line-up.
And the Liverpool manager has urged their replacements to stake their first-team claims by ensuring their interest remains deep into the competition.
“It's a strange game for us in a sense,” said Hodgson. “It's one where we definitely need to rotate the squad having played so many games, and with us having to play so many more before the international break
“But on the other hand it's a competition I take very seriously and I want to have a good run in the competition.
“We are bothered.
“There's a responsibility on those who replace the big-name players like Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher to name but four. And to be fair they've shown themselves capable of taking on that burden in a couple of European matches already.
“As we saw in the last game against Steaua Bucharest, Jay Spearing was arguably one of the best players on the field. If you never give him a chance, how do you know that?”
Hodgson has taken the strange step of publicly naming many of the players who will start tonight’s game.
Summer signings Danny Wilson and goalkeeper Brad Jones will both be handed their debuts while Dani Pacheco is poised for only his second start of the season.
“Soto Kyrgiakos and Daniel Agger will be the two centre-backs and Danny will play left-back,” said Hodgson. “He came here as a centre-back but is capable of playing at full-back in the same way we think Martin Kelly is capable of playing in this position.
“Pepe Reina is a fantastic character who wants to play every game, whether it's a seven-a-side in training or any game Liverpool Football Club plays, but it's important that Brad Jones gets his chance.”
Hodgson added: “I'm quite interested in Dani as well. He's a player who came back a little later after taking part in the U19 European Championships.
“He's impressed in training and looks like a very interesting prospect. His first-team chances have been limited because he wasn't in Switzerland in pre-season, where he would have played for sure.
“I'm really looking forward to seeing him play on Wednesday night, and it's another great chance for Ryan Babel and David Ngog to stake their claim for a place in the team.”
One player definitely absent is Kuyt, who continues to recover from the shoulder injury suffered while on international duty with Holland earlier this month.
Liverpool feared the 30-year-old would be out for a month, but the Dutchman has made a speedy recovery and is already back in training.
And Hodgson claims Kuyt may return for Thursday's Europa League trip to former club Utrecht and could even be back as early as Saturday's Premier League visit of Sunderland.
“Dirk has trained the last couple of days,” said Hodgson. “We're trying to protect him a little bit but he's made a remarkable recovery, so it'll be interesting to see how he progresses in relation to Saturday's game and the game next Thursday.
“We thought three to five weeks, so we're at the quick end of the scale.”
Tonight's opponents Northampton stand in 85th place in the Football League, only two points off bottom place having won only one league game all season.
However, they earned tonight's tie having won on penalties at Reading in the last round having earlier eliminated Brighton and Hove Albion.
This will be only the fourth occasion the teams have met and the first time since 1966, with Liverpool yet to be beaten.
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