Joe Cole will be handed the chance to restart his Liverpool career against Sparta Prague with Kenny Dalglish reluctant to risk Steven Gerrard's fitness for the sake of the club's Europa League ambitions.

Gerrard has not played since damaging an adductor muscle in the win at Chelsea on 6 February and, despite returning to training, is not expected to start the second leg tie against the Czech champions at Anfield. Liverpool sorely lacked creativity in last week's goalless draw in Prague but Dalglish will not rush his captain's recovery ahead of Premier League fixtures against West Ham, for which he remains a doubt, and Manchester United.

"We can't put any extra pressure on a player to play because it's a European night," said Dalglish. "We all know about Steven's record in Europe – he did it for us again this year against Napoli when he came on as sub and scored three goals. We've got a lot of games to play between now and the end of the season and we want Steven to play in as many as possible. If it means taking a risk with him on Thursday and losing him for the rest of the season, we are not going to do that. It will be important to have him but we are not going to be irresponsible."

Gerrard's absence offers Cole an opportunity to make his first start under Dalglish and in his favoured central role, having been deployed on the left during Roy Hodgson's time in charge. The former Chelsea forward suffered a knee injury shortly after Dalglish's arrival but, despite making little impact during his debut season at Anfield, retains the confidence of a manager who believes the 29-year-old could prove invaluable against Sparta.

Dalglish said: "Joe's got the ability to open up a can of beans. He's a talented footballer and we've got to make sure he is right and ready. He's done nothing but good over the last few weeks when he's been fit enough to train and he did well enough in the game last week against Sparta, so he's really progressing. He knows himself it takes time to adjust after being out for a while injured. It's not a tap you can turn on and off. Even hot water takes a while to come through so, for Joe, it's not fair for us to judge him right now. He is enthusiastic and he is talented, and we will try our best to get that out of him."

A last-16 date with Lech Poznan or Braga awaits the victors at Anfield, with the Polish club leading 1-0 from their first leg at home, and Dalglish admits Liverpool must show greater adventure than they displayed in Prague. "Sparta have got a way of playing and it suits them, and it's up to us to break them down if they want to put a barrier up," Dalglish added. "We know where we have got to improve on last week. We know we have to be more aggressive."

Probable teams Liverpool (4-2-3-1) Reina; Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Wilson; Lucas, Meireles; Kuyt, Cole, Rodríguez; Ngog.

Subs from: Gerrard, Skrtel, Agger, Sterling, Jones, Spearing, Poulsen, Gulacsi, Pacheco, Jovanovic, Kelly, Coady.

Sparta Prague (4-1-4-1): Blazek; Kusnir, Brabec, Repka, Pamic; Vacek; Keric, Biholong, Matejovsky, Kadlec; Kweuke.

Subs from: Zitka, Podany, Sionko, Bondoa, Zeman, Husek, Pekhart.

Referee: M Mazic (Serbia)