Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who scored his first goals of the season last weekend, will be left out of tonight’s Europa League tie against FC Sion, manager Brendan Rodgers said yesterday.
The aim is to hold him back for Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Everton, who are four places above their neighbours. But Rodgers will be happy with England naming him for their final Euro 2016 qualifying matches in a week’s time.
“He won’t be involved in the (Sion) game,” Rodgers told a news conference. “We’ll keep him fresh for the weekend. He’s still building his way towards fitness.”
The England striker missed six months of last season in all with calf and thigh injuries and then the first five league matches of the new campaign.
In his second game back last weekend he scored twice against Aston Villa, delighting Rodgers with the way he combined with new signing Danny Ings.
“If we can keep him fit, there’s a real good combination there. It was a real threat,” the manager said.
“Our approach to this game will be how it’s been in the competition so far. It’s an opportunity for players on the fringes,” Rodgers added, confirming that 18-year-old midfielder Jordan Rossiter will feature.
He made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Bordeaux in the opening Group B game. On the same day Sion beat Rubin Kazan 2-1 to top the table.
“It’s a game where we’re going to need to be patient,” Rodgers said. “Sion sit deep and then play a counter-attacking game.”
Today’s fixtures
Group A
Celtic vs Fenerbahce - 21.05
Molde vs Ajax - 21.05
Standings: Molde 3; Ajax, Celtic 1; Fenerbahce 0.
Group B
Rubin Kazan vs Bordeaux - 21.05
Liverpool vs Sion - 21.05
Standings: Sion 3; Liverpool, Bordeaux 1; Rubin Kazan 0.
Group C
Krasnodar vs Qabala - 21.05
PAOK vs Bor. Dortmund - 21.05
Standings: Borussia Dortmund 3; PAOK, Qabala 1; Krasnodar 0.
Group D
Club Brugge vs Midtjylland - 21.05
Legia Warsaw vs Napoli - 21.05
Standings: Napoli, Midtjylland 3; Legia Warsaw, Brugge 0.
Group E
D. Minsk vs Rapid Vienna - 21.05
Villarreal vs Viktoria Plzen - 21.05
Standings: Viktoria Plzen, Rapid Vienna 3; Villarreal, Dinamo Minsk 0.
Group F
Marseille vs S. Liberec - 21.05
Braga vs Groningen - 21.05
Standings: Olympique Marseille, Braga 3; Slovan Liberec, Groningen 0.
Group G
Rosenborg vs Dnipro - 19.00
Lazio vs St Etienne - 19.00
Standings: St Etienne, Rosenborg, Dnipro, Lazio 1.
Group H
Besiktas vs Sporting Lisbon - 19.00
L. Moscow vs Skenderbeu - 19.00
Standings: Lokomotiv Moscow, Besiktas 3; Skenderbeu, Sporting Lisbon 0.
Group I
Belenenses vs Fiorentina - 19.00
Basel vs Lech Poznan - 19.00
Standings: Basel 3; Lech Poznan, Belenenses 1; Fiorentina 0.
Group J
Qarabag vs Anderlecht - 19.00
Monaco vs Tottenham - 19.00
Standings: Tottenham Hotspur 3; Anderlecht, Monaco 1; Qarabag 0.
Group K
Sparta Prague vs APOEL - 19.00
Schalke vs Asteras - 19.00
Standings: Schalke 04 3; Sparta Prague, Asteras 1; APOEL 0.
Group L
Augsburg vs Partizan - 19.00
AZ Alkmaar vs Ath,. Bilbao - 19.00
Standings: Athletic Bilbao, Partizan Belgrade 3; AZ Alkmaar, Augsburg 0.