Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has admitted he may have to end his policy of resting his most valuable assets during Europa League games when his side enters the knockout stages in February.
Liverpool will face Czech champions Sparta Prague in the last 32, before a potential meeting with either Portuguese side Braga — opponents of Arsenal in the Champions League — or Lech Poznan in the last 16.
Though Hodgson has thus far attempted to spare his most important players the strain of playing three games a week — Steven Gerrard featured for just 45 minutes of Liverpool’s six group stage fixtures, while Fernando Torres started just once — he suggested on Friday he would include them as he looks to win a trophy in his first season at the club.
“We are at the knockout stage now, and so I will not have that option because it will be important to put out our best team every time if we want to go further in the competition,” he said.
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