Rodgers on Reds' squad for Besiktas
Brendan Rodgers has backed Liverpool to rise to the challenge of an increasingly demanding fixture list as injuries, suspension and illness hinder the manager's options.
The Reds are in Istanbul to take on Besiktas in the second leg of their Europa League last 32 tie at the Ataturk Stadium this evening, having flown to Turkey yesterday.
Immediately after the final whistle, they will take to the skies again to return to Merseyside and begin preparations for a league meeting with Manchester City on Sunday.
Jordan Henderson, Glen Johnson and Mamadou Sakho remained behind and are unavailable for tonight, while Lazar Markovic continues to serve a suspension in Europe.
Captain Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva are among a number of other players still on the sidelines, meaning Rodgers will utilise the depth of his squad for the Besiktas decider.
"It's about getting the balance," the boss explained. "We take it seriously and want to get through, but we also want to progress in the league.
"We've got a lot of players and that's why they were brought in. Obviously we are stretched at the moment. We are playing a lot of games this season because we've had a successful couple of years.
"We are doing well, we are in a couple of cups and if we want to maintain that and work well for the coming years, we have to get used to a lot of games.
"We're winning games and the confidence is high. The players have had lots of challenges to overcome this season and we are ready to keep performing."
Having previously started the past 19 successive matches for Liverpool, in-form playmaker Philippe Coutinho will not be involved at the Ataturk.
Rodgers said: "I've had to leave out young Coutinho. He hasn't travelled with us. He's an outstanding young player for us, a key player and he's played a lot of games consecutively for us.
"This was a game that I'd earmarked to give him some recovery in, knowing he can stay at home, not travel and prepare and get ready for the weekend."