Most of the Reds' international stars have returned to Merseyside following their exploits in South Africa for training whilst a team of reserves and academy starlets slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Kaiserslauten yesterday as part of the club's pre-season preparations.
Marquee signing Joe Cole was joined at Melwood earlier this week by senior first-team players including Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger ahead of Thursday's third qualifying round first leg tie.
Despite voicing concerns about risking key first-team players, Hodgson is refusing to take a gamble with Liverpool's European chances and insists that the line-up in Macedonia will be a very different one to the inexperienced side that took to the field at the Fritz Walter Stadion.
"It is pretty obvious to everyone that is not the sort of team you really want to play on Thursday," he said.
"They deserve credit for the way they went about their business but we will have to think carefully.
"The sports science people are keen we don't throw the World Cup people into action, but to throw this team into the Europa League might be a bridge too far for them.'
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