Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has warned that his players may not be physically up to speed against Manchester City tomorrow.
Rodgers' men crashed out of the Europa League in midweek in Turkey against Besiktas. It was a game which went all the way to penalties, meaning 120 minutes of football for the Reds in Istanbul.
Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield tomorrow as they bid to keep their good form in the Premier League going, but Rodgers has cautioned over the physical effects of having played on Thursday evening.
"The players that we had available were nearly all involved the other night. Of course it was always going to be difficult in terms of the preparation", he told a press conference today.
"You don't need to be a sports scientist to work out that if you arrive back at 4.30 on Friday morning and then you have got a game early on the Sunday, physically there is going to be a cost."
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However, the Liverpool manager has promised that mentally his players will certainly be at the races and says they are relishing the clash.
"But mentally, the players are in a good state and we'll look forward to the game."
Liverpool are currently sixth in the Premier League table, just two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
Having exited the Europa League in midweek, the Reds' only route into next season's Champions League is by finishing in the Premier League's top four.
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