Liverpool striker Torres out of Steaua clash

LIVERPOOL: Striker Fernando Torres (pic) will take a break in Liverpool's Europa League clash against Steaua Bucharest on Friday (2am) after manager Roy Hodgson revealed he would not be travelling with the squad.

Hodgson also made it known Scottish youngster Danny Wilson will replace injured defender Jamie Carragher for the trip to Romania.

Torres is being rested in view of Liverpool's clash against Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend.

Wilson, on the other hand, gets the chance to impress after Carragher was ruled out for three months following surgery on his shoulder.

Wilson will make only his second appearance since joining from Rangers and he will partner Sotirios Kyrgiakos at the back and they are likely to be joined in defence by Fabio Aurelio and Martin Kelly.

"Martin Kelly and Wilson will start against Steaua and it's a great opportunity for them to stake a claim to be in the first team," Hodgson told Liverpool's website.

"Not being able to take the points against Tottenham in the league has kept us in a mid-table position so the next games coming up are going to be very important.

"I've got to be careful not to risk too many of the players I want out on the field against Villa.

"Torres won't travel. I can leave maybe as many as six or seven players who I expect to start against Villa out of the team.

"It means on paper, I'm taking a weakened team, but I believe people like Joe Cole, Ryan Babel, Milan Jovanovic, Wilson, Christian Poulsen and Jonjo Shelvey are more than capable of doing a good job for Liverpool."