Europa League - Team News: Carra backs under-strength Reds
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has defended Roy Hodgson's decision to rest key duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres for tonight's Europa League clash against Napoli.
Torres and Gerrard have remained on Merseyside and Hodgson is also without Glen Johnson, who missed the derby defeat at Everton with a hamstring problem, and Daniel Agger, who is ill.
Midfielders Raul Meireles and Lucas have also been omitted from the 20-man squad which flew to Italy.
But Carragher believes it is more important to rotate players, especially those who have had injury problems.
"Steven and Fernando are not here but you have to understand that these days it is a long season and you need a big squad and they are players that have played through summers for years on end," said Carragher.
"Stevie also played through the international break and if you continued with him and Fernando they would eventually break down and you'd complain about that.
"The club are treating them in the right way, physically, and hopefully that will prove right towards the end of the season." |