ROY HODGSON admits his team are totally ill-prepared for his first game as Liverpool manager tonight and could not have envisaged a “more difficult situation” in which to begin his Anfield career.

Hodgson will be without most of the squad’s 14 World Cup representatives for the Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie against Macedonian minnows FK Rabotnicki in Skopje.

Since taking over from Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager has seen the gloom among supporters lifted considerably with the signing of Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard reaffirming his commitment to the club and Fernando Torres seemingly following suit.

But the 62-year-old offered a stark reality check when facing the media yesterday evening, conceding he was “far from confident” his makeshift side could gain a result.

“I couldn’t have envisaged at the start of my time at Liverpool a more difficult situation than the one I find myself in,” said Hodgson. “Coming to Skopje, playing a good opponent, having very little chance to work with the first team and not having as many as 10 first-team players at my disposition. It couldn’t be more difficult.

“This is my first competitive game and it would have been nice if the game was played later and we could field what we think is our strongest team. But we can’t.”

Acting on the advice of the club’s medical staff, England quartet Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Glen Johnson and Cole were left behind to train at Melwood.

Instead, only Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger have been added to the youthful squad that took part in the training camp in Switzerland last week, meaning the likes of Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing and 19-year-old winger David Amoo are in line to start against Rabotnicki.