Liverpool V Trabzonspor

The Hawthorns West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool Premier League 17/05/09 Daniel Agger (Liverpool) exchanges pleasantries with the linesman Photo Roger Parker Fotosports International
Here is hoping Agger gets his memory back soon, might be embarrassing if he calls Roy, Rafa...

Daniel Agger and Javier Mascherano will not be featuring in Liverpool's game tomorrow against Trabzonspor. Agger seems to have totally forgotten he even played a football match on Sunday and is still suffering from concussion whereas Mascherano has picked up a calf injury.

Roy's selection will therefore be slightly different to Sunday's team fielded against Arsenal but will presumably still include the big names i.e. Torres, Gerrard and co.

So what about the opposition? Well some of you older lot will remember a clash with the Turkish side in the European Cup in 1976. The first leg Liverpool trailed 1-0 but won their home leg 3-0 to see the Reds through.

What else do we know Trabzonspor then?

Well, it's no coincidence that they hail from the Turkish town of Trabzon. They were formed in 1967 when several football clubs in Trabzon merged together.

They play in dark red and blue hence their nick name - Maroon Blues.

They were promoted to the top league in Turkey (Super Lig) in 1974 and they have remained there ever since. They have won the league 6 times and this is a record for a club outside of Istanbul.

They have won the Turkish Cup eight times and have also won several other cups and division championships.

Their manager Senol Gunes has had a senior playing career with Trabzonspor making 453 appearances but scoring no goals. He must like the club as his current managerial stint is his fourth time back to manage the club.

In terms of who to keep an eye out for tomorrow Bulut got a few goals for them last season and is a decent player from what i have glanced at online. I also hear their Argentinian Colman may be one to cause some problems too.

In all honesty though, this opposition should not phase a Liverpool side at home. A nice lead to go into the second leg in the magical Turkish coastal town is a very achievable target.