Liverpool will be without a host of key players for the return leg of their Europa League qualifier against Trabzonspor in Turkey on Thursday night.
Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Maxi Rodriguez will all miss out as the Reds attempt to build on a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
Gerrard has suffered a recurrence of a back problem, Daniel Agger is feeling the effects of a concussion suffered in last weekend’s draw with Arsenal, Maxi Rodriguez has an illness, while Hodgson doesn’t want to risk Torres in a third successive game after his recent return from injury.
All players are thought to be in with a chance of being fit in time for Liverpool’s Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
“Steven Gerrard unfortunately has had a recurrence of the back problem which he gets from time to time,” said Hodgson.
“Hopefully it won’t stop him playing on Sunday.
“With Fernando Torres we’ve made the decision that we don’t wish to risk him three games in a row at this stage of the season with him having done so well to get back this quickly.
“Agger played in the game on Monday (the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City) which was to some extent against medical advice.
“He wanted to play but felt a bit sick after the game. That’s mainly due to the concussion he suffered (against Arsenal), so it would be foolish for us to risk him.
“Maxi is sick. He’s in bed at the moment with a bit of gastroenteritis, so he’s out of the question.”
Hodgson admits that the Reds face a difficult task to win the tie outright, a task that would have been a whole lot easier had they not missed a host of opportunities at Anfield, including a missed penalty by new signing Joe Cole.
“We missed a golden opportunity to kill the game off at Anfield and now we’ve got it all to do,” said Hodgson.
“It’s going to be a very tough ask for the players in a difficult place.
“They are one of the two or three best teams in Turkey at the moment and Turkish football is of a very high standard.
“Everyone who’s been to Trabzon tells me it’s a remarkably difficult place to play.
“They’re a hostile and fanatic crowd and it’s a difficult pitch.
“But if we come through it we’ll come through it stronger.”
