Liverpool will leave behind at least nine first team players when they travel to face Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

With a crucial Premier League clash away to Chelsea on Sunday and fortunes in the Europa League looking good, Brendan Rodgers is opting to rest some of his big stars.

Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez don’t make the trip, whilst Glen Johnson and Pepe Reina continue their rehabilitation from recent injuries.

Joe Allen, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Nuri Sahin and Raheem Sterling also look set to sit this one out, with the squad being filled by youngsters.

Provisional Liverpool squad: Jones, Wisdom, Carragher, Coates, Robinson, Shelvey, Henderson, Cole, Downing, Yesil, Assaidi, Gulacsi, Ward, Flanagan, Sama, Wilson, Coady, Suso, Morgan.

The game is likely to be a cold and lonely affair for the Reds with restrictions in place against Anzhi playing their home games at their home ground.

Only around 1,000 fans may be in attendance at the game, whilst traveling Liverpool fans have reported problems obtaining visas and flights to Moscow.

Anzhi vs Liverpool gets underway at 5pm on Thursday, 8th November 2012.