Eurapa League QualifierL : Joe Cole, Liverpool - FK Rabotnicki (Getty Images)
Related Links
Teams
In it for the long haul
This is a new experience for Liverpool - for so many years a force in the Champions League, the Reds are already one round into European football's secondary competition, the Europa League, after beating Macedonian unknowns FK Rabotnicki comfortably over two legs.
The weird and wonderful world of the Europa League is nothing new to manager Roy Hodgson though; the former Fulham boss guided his unfancied side all the way to the final of the competition last season after starting at the earliest hurdle. If a long season is ahead for Liverpool, Hodgson will be well prepared.
The Anfield faithful will have been pleased with Hodgson's Premier League start too, drawing with Arsenal and playing the best part of the meeting with 10 men having seen Joe Cole sent off in the first half. A win will be expected on Thursday night though, and regardless of the name of the competition, those special European nights are back and Liverpool will want to go all the way.
Coach Gunes has score to settle
Trabzonspor enter the Europa League at this stage, but the Turkish Cup winners have had a busy summer, signing defender Arkadiusz Glowacki, midfielder Baris Atas and most recently Brazilian striker Jaja, and claiming the Turkish Super Cup with a 3-0 win over Buraspor.
The 'Black Sea Storm' as they're known in their native Turkey have also made a winning start to their league campaign, and coach Senol Gunes has some previous with Liverpool; the former goalkeeper, who managed his nation to a third place finish at the 2002 World Cup, was part of a Trabzonspor side that succumbed to a 3-1 aggregate loss against the Reds in the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1976.
Trabzonspor suffered a 3-0 loss at Anfield back then and Gunes will be hoping to avoid a repeat on Thursday.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Javier Mascherano has been ruled out of the Liverpool squad after he failed to recover from the muscle complaint that saw him substituted in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday. New signing Christian Poulsen is expected to deputise and make his debut for the club.
Joining him on the sidelines is Denmark defender Daniel Agger who has failed to recover from concussion picked up in the same match.
Whether Fernando Torres is deemed fit enough to start remains to be seen, with David Ngog otherwise set to continue in a lone striker's role.
Possible Starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio; Poulsen, Gerrard; Kuyt, Cole, Jovanovic; Ngog.
Trabzonspor
New signing Jaja is included in the squad to travel to England, as are the club's other summer recruits.
Gunes looks set to field as strong a side as possible, and could name an unchanged XI to the one that beat Ankaragucu just days ago.
Possible Starting XI: Kivrak; Korkmaz, Glowacki, Balci, Cale; Yilmaz, Alanzinho; Inan, Colman, Gulselam; Gutierrez.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool
David Ngog was a man with plenty of detractors last season and has set about proving his critics wrong with a handful of goals early on in this campaign.
The young French striker has hit the back of the net three times in the Europa League already against FK Rabotnicki over two legs, and scored with a thunderous shot against Arsenal. He is likely to lead the line again on Thursday.
Trabzonspor
Teofilo Gutierrez is Trabzonspor's in-form hitman currently. The Colombian international has scored five goals in his last two games, netting a hat-trick in the 3-0 Super Cup win over Buraspor before bagging a brace against Ankaragucu in league competition.
Gutierrez is new to European football, but will undoubtedly be aware of Liverpool's illustrious history and will be desperate to make an impact.
PREDICTION
Liverpool will understand the importance of taking a lead to Turkey, which has never been an easy place for any team to travel, and anything other than a win at Anfield could make this tie an uphill struggle.
The Reds have made a spirited start to their season though and, with the Kop behind them, should be able to secure a first leg advantage on Thursday night.
Liverpool 2-0 Trabzonspor
Our 
provides the best breaking news online and our 
football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!
Comments 
