Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will not utilise striker Daniel Sturridge in the Europa League meeting with FC Sion at Anfield.
Sturridge missed the start of the new season after undergoing hip surgery earlier this year, but the England international was back in action for the Reds in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City and then found the net twice in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa last weekend.
However, Rodgers does not want to risk Sturridge on Thursday evening, especially with a Merseyside derby at Everton coming up on Sunday.
He told reporters: “He won’t be involved in the game. We’ll keep him fresh for the weekend. He’s still building his way towards (full) fitness.
“Daniel has worked hard to come back ahead of schedule, but we have to make sure we don’t break him. He gives us quality at the final third of the field.”
In the absence of Sturridge, Liverpool are 1.57 to defeat Swiss outfit Sion, while they can be backed at 6.50 to secure a 1-0 victory.
Rodgers also hinted that he would rather see Sturridge enjoy a rest after the weekend action and be omitted from the England squad to be named for their final two European Championship qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania.
Roy Hodgson’s side have already made sure of qualification for the Euro 2016 finals in France, having won eight out of eight to secure top spot in Group E in style.
They have scored 26 goals in those eight games and conceded a mere three, all of which have been scored by Slovenia.
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