ROY HODGSON will hand Fernando Torres a Europa League start tonight, as Liverpool welcome Dutch side FC Utrecht to Anfield.

Despite the game having little bearing on the makeup of Group K – Liverpool are guaranteed top spot, whilst Utrecht have already been eliminated – the Spanish striker will feature in a strong line-up, alongside the likes of Pepe Reina, Ryan Babel, Fabio Aurelio and Joe Cole, as Hodgson looks for a response from his players following last weekend’s defeat to Newcastle.

French striker David Ngog will miss the game after sustaining a cut above his eye at St James’ Park, whilst Daniel Agger, Steven Gerrard and Paul Konchesky, who also picked up a knock at the weekend, will not be risked.

“Fernando will play,” said Hodgson, “There are two reasons for that; one is that we do not want to risk David Ngog with his cut, and the other is that it will be good for Fernando to play alongside Ryan Babel, and that is something we want to look at. Hopefully the game will go well for us, which will enable us to withdraw him before the end.

”Fernando is happy to play, he wants to play, and he will enjoy the game. It is at Anfield, a place he knows well, so it would be foolish not to use him when we have the chance to, especially considering David is absent.

“Had it been a must-win game, then David and Paul would have been able to play. But with it being a dead rubber, so to speak, we have made the decision not to risk them.”

Torres’s own personal form, as much as Liverpool’s, has come under intense scrutiny this season. The Spaniard missed a golden chance to give his side the lead at Newcastle, and has now gone five games without a goal, but Hodgson is hoping he can take his frustrations out this evening and start to reproduce his best form.

”Fernando knows what a great player he is, and when things are not going so well he is the first to recognise it. I am hoping, of course, that he will have a good game alongside Ryan and it will help improve his confidence.

”It is no secret that we believe Fernando is one of the very best forward players in Europe, and the fact that he perhaps hasn’t been at his very best level over the past couple of months changes nothing. He has not become a bad player overnight.

“And don’t forget, strikers – along with goalkeepers – tread such a fine line. The difference between being carried down the street on people’s shoulders, and being vilified is very thin; that’s the nature of being a centre-forward.

“He’s a lot fitter now; earlier in the season he was wrapped in cotton wool following the World Cup and his injury, the medical staff were very wary of him playing too many games. But as he the games have gone on, and with him training every day and getting fitter and stronger, that fear has subsided.

“Hopefully he can show everyone what a good player he is at Anfield tonight.”

Joe Cole will also start the game, as he looks to return to full fitness following a lay-off with hamstring and ankle problems. It has been a stop-start beginning to the 29-year-old’s Anfield career, and Hodgson says the former Chelsea man is itching to get playing again.

“Joe is absolutely desperate to play,” he revealed. “It has been tough for him, he had the suspension earlier in the season and he has been injured of late. He has lost his place in the team recently because of this, but he is raring to go and he wants it back.”