Liverpool travel to Besiktas for the second leg of the Europa League last-32 fixture. The Reds have a 1-0 advantage from the first tie at Anfield, but would know better than to expect an easy route to the last-16. With a tough and crucial tie at Manchester City waiting for them at the weekend, Brendan Rodgers will have to do the team-selection wisely. Philippe Coutinho has been left home after the Brazilian made his 19th straight start against Southampton. The Reds also have injury concerns as Jordan Henderson has not travelled due to an ankle issue and Glen Johnson is suffering an illness. The rest of the injury concerns are the same as against Southampton. However, Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool can do the job against their Turkish opponents with a depleted squad as well.
a Wea ve got a few injuries,a said Rodgers.
a Wea ve probably out here without eight of our squad who have knocks, some with previous and some who picked up something at the weekend.
a We still have a squad strong enough to hopefully get the job complete. But wea ve got a few knocks and niggles from the weekend.
a I dona t think we were lucky in the first game. Besiktas had two shots on our goal and our goalkeeper had to make one save of note.
a Simon Mignolet made a very good save from Demba Ba but apart from that we dominated the game.
a But we respect our opponent. We havena t arrived in Turkey being arrogant enough to think it will be comfortable.a
The game will be played in what is expected to be a sell-out Ataturk Stadium, the scene of arguably Liverpoola s greatest triumph in the 2005 Champions League final.
Rodgers said his side was looking forward to the atmosphere of the Ataturk stadium and insisted that the team could get a result away from Anfield. He added, a Wea re looking forward to the atmosphere and we want to get the job complete.
“We understand it will be a difficult game but this is a team that is playing very well away from home, not just at Anfield.
a Away from home wea re performing extremely well. This is another challenge to that but we look forward to it.
a Have we confidence? Very much so. The confidence is very high in the team and the changes we make and the players that come in, they know their collective job.
a Theya re performing at a very high level so we expect that confidence level to continue and to carry that into the game.a
Besiktas danger men Demba Ba and Gokhan Tore have both been passed fit for the game after doubts over their fitness earlier in the week.
And Rodgers said: a We expected both players to be fit for the game. Our preparation for the match was for both players.
a They are both talents but the focus for us is on ourselves. We know it will be a tough game but wea ll be ready for the challenge.a