ontd_football | Gerrard, Agger will miss the trip to Holland for Europa Lague match

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FERNANDO TORRES is ready to spearhead Liverpool's attack in Utrecht tomorrow night – but Steven Gerrard will miss the trip to Holland.

Liverpool's squad flew out for their second game in Europa League Group K today without their skipper – who has been rested – and defender Daniel Agger.

However, the good news for Reds fans centred around Torres, who was part of a strong travelling party which includes Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole, Raul Meireles, Pepe Reina and Dirk Kuyt.

This is only the fifth time in the past 12 months that Torres has been involved in a European away trip and the first since the Europa League quarter-final with Benfica in April. (WHAT?!)

Agger's absence from the squad will raise some eyebrows, given that both recognised left-backs Paul Konchesky (hamstring) and Fabio Aurelio (Achilles tendon) are absent through injury.

Roy Hodgson, though, does have the option of playing Martin Kelly in that role again, as he did when Liverpool beat Trabzonspor 2-1 in Turkey last month.

Kelly has played in all five of Liverpool Europa League games this season so far and was one of the few to emerge from last week's Carling Cup defeat against Northampton with credit.

Jay Spearing is another younger member of the squad who is desperate to be included after doing so well in the opening 4-1 victory over Steaua Bucharest two weeks ago.

He said: "These are two big games for everyone. I'd love to be involved if possible. We need three points against Blackpool (on Sunday) to get us up the table again.

"We could also do with the three points from Utrecht. We are going there looking to win. We know it is going to difficult but we are full of confidence after beating Steaua."

Utrecht have made an indifferent start to the Eredivise campaign, taking nine points from their first seven games, and warmed up for tomorrow's game with a 1-0 defeat against AZ Alkmaar.

But they are unbeaten in four games at the Stadion Galgenwaard without conceding a goal and they drew 0-0 with Napoli on Matchday One in Naples.

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina, meanwhile, is asking fans to show patience as Liverpool adapt to the on-the-field changes introduced by new manager Roy Hodgson.

And the Spanish international goalkeeper admits he is having to make adjustments to his own game as the Reds attempt to bed into a new playing pattern under the new boss.

Liverpool have endured a bumpy ride through the early weeks of Hodgson’s reign, taking six points from the opening six Premier League games and bowing out of the Carling Cup in embarrassing fashion to Northampton Town of League Two last week.

Pepe's BOSS

But as the Reds prepare for a Europa League mission to FC Utrecht tomorrow, Reina insists supporters should take a longer term view.Reina said: "When you have so many changes and move in a new direction under a new boss, things don’t happen instantly. It can take between three and six months before you see improvements. Honestly, the quicker we adapt and improve as a team the better it will be for everyone.

"That doesn’t just happen overnight. Each of us has to adjust to working in a new way. For me, I’m working in a slightly different way. It is an English style of goalkeeping coaching." With the passing of each day I get used to it and what the manager wants. It is the same for all of us. We need to be patient. Some people expect miracles. Football doesn’t usually work like that."

Few players at Anfield were closer to Benitez than Reina, a fellow countrymen who moved to Anfield from Villarreal in 2005

Reina said: "It was sad to see Rafa go. I would be lying if I said otherwise or if I said I wasn’t close to him. He was the man who brought me here. I owe him a lot. It wasn’t nice when he left but that’s football. He’s moved on and so has this club." (EVERYONE NEEDS TO STOP TALKING ABOUT RAFA. JESUS CHRIST)

Reina built a reputation as one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the Premier League but has had his uncomfortable moments this season, not least in conceding an own goal equaliser to Arsenal at Anfield. But the 25-year-old has been playing long enough to know that a goalkeeper cannot afford to dwell on individual incidents in a game, whether good or bad.

He said: "People remember the mistakes goalkeepers make. As a goalkeeper you know that is the case. In the position you have to take plenty of responsibility and I love that.

"Unfortunately if you make a mistake it usually leads to a goal. Goalkeepers can cost you several points during the season and also win you points. Of course the ideal thing is to get the balance right by earning more points than you give away.

"There is no point being really happy with one save or really depressed by mistake. That doesn’t get you anywhere. In a season and in your career there are lots and lots of games. It is certain that during those games you will encounter good and bad moments. You can’t let them affection either way."

Reina suggests fans should not draw too many conclusions from Liverpool’s performances over the first half dozen games of the season, even if the modest points return has left them in the bottom half of the table.

He said: "People who criticise us about it should look at the fixtures we’ve had. It’s been a difficult start. Arsenal at home and then going on to play Manchester City, Manchester United and Birmingham City away was never going to be easy.

"Against Arsenal we were a bit unlucky and could quite easily have won the game even though we had 10 men for a long time. The away games have not been easy. Not many teams will go to the City of Manchester Stadium, Old Trafford or St Andrews and win. Those three teams have very good records at home."

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TORRES, WE NEED YOU TO DO THIS TOMORROW! Anywho, this is good and bad news. Thank GOD most of our starters are making this trip - shows that maybe Roy and company are starting to take the Europa League seriously. Also, we see that Reina's a class act, always good to see. But Agger's injured and Gerrard isn't going? Oyyyy.