Hearts v Liverpool preview
Rodgers to rotate squad; Hearts welcome back Templeton
By Pete O'Rourke
Hearts v Liverpool - 23rd Aug 2012 | Preview | Europa League Qual | Sky Sports Football
Liverpool travel to Hearts for the first leg of their Europa League play-off on Thursday night.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is set to rotate his squad as they look to bounce back from their opening day Premier League defeat to West Brom.
Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Martin Skrtel and Glen Johnson have been left out of the trip to Edinburgh as Rodgers looks to rest the quartet ahead of this weekend's clash with Manchester City.
Jose Enrique is again missing after he was ruled out of the defeat to West Brom with a knee injury.
Joe Cole will also miss the tie at Tynecastle after sustaining a hamstring injury at the Hawthorns.
Agger
Daniel Agger is set to start in defence with the Dane suspended for Sunday's showdown with City following his red card at West Brom.
Recent signing Oussama Assaidi is cup-tied having featured for Heerenveen in the qualifying rounds, but he would become available if Liverpool progress to the group stages.
Rodgers has declared he will use the competition to give some young players a chance so the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jack Robinson could earn rare outings.
Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson will be hoping to earn starts in midfield after being named on the bench against West Brom.
Hearts news
Hearts will be aiming to erase the memories of their emphatic 5-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham at Tynecastle in the Europa League last season.
The Jambos are boosted by the return of winger David Templeton from suspension and he is expected to go straight back into the side.
Defender Marius Zaliukas is expected to shake off a dead leg he sustained in last weekend's draw with Inverness to play.
Hearts have signed goalkeeper Peter Enckelman and he is on standby to play with No.1 keeper Jamie MacDonald's availability up in the air as his partner is due to give birth.