Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is to put concerns over the fitness of players ahead of progress in European competition. The Reds face a Europa League third-round qualifier against Macedonian side Rabotnicki or Armenia's Mika later this month.
Hodgson is likely to have to play both legs, the first scheduled for July 29, without any of his World Cup stars after the club's medical staff warned him about forcing them into action too early after a gruelling and lengthy season.
"Possibly none of our World Cup players will play in the early Europa Cup games if we listen to the advice of the sports science people," said the 62-year-old.
"They are telling me we would be very foolhardy to use players who have only been training for three or four days on the back of the World Cup that early on because that will affect us further on down the road.
"If we feel we are endangering our chances of doing well in the Premier League by risking players in the early stage of the Europa League, it will be a decision the club will have to take. You have to follow the guidance."
"Their (medical staff's) advice is to not use these players," added Hodgson, who will at least have new signing Milan Jovanovic available with the possibility of any new arrivals also being utilised.
"If we have enough players to put a team out without them is another question.
"Things can happen before July 29; we will not be speculating on that and there is no point in me making predictions of what the team will be like for that game.
"The sports science people are advising me not to use the players from the World Cup.
"Therefore new signings would become important for the Europa League."
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