Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of the crucial Europa League clash with Udinese on Thursday night through illness, but Luis Suarez has been named in the 19-man squad.

The Uruguay striker, who is suspended for Sunday’s Premier League trip to West Ham, is set to make his first away appearance in Europe for the club, with Liverpool needing to avoid defeat if they are to stand any chance of reaching the knock-out stages of the competition.

Gerrard misses out through illness, while Lucas Leiva, who has just returned to action following a long-term thigh injury, and Daniel Agger are the other noticeable absentees, with both being rested for Sunday’s trip to Upton Park, in what is otherwise a strong squad named by manager Brendan Rodgers.

For Liverpool (who can still finish top of Group A) to avoid being knocked out of the competition, Rodgers’ men need to at least match Young Boys’ result against Anzhi, while also avoiding defeat themselves in Italy, as, even if Young Boys also lose, the Swiss side would be top of a three-way head-to-head involving the Reds and Udinese.

The Reds departed on Wednesday afternoon with a travelling party that included Suarez, as well as Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Joe Allen and vice-captain Jamie Carragher.

The Liverpool squad in full is: Brad Jones, Johnson, Jose Enrique, Nuri Sahin, Suarez, Joe Cole, Oussama Assaidi, Jordan Henderson, Sebastian Coates, Stewart Downing, Carragher, Allen, Reina, Suso, Raheem Sterling, Jonjo Shelvey, Conor Coady, Skrtel, Andre Wisdom.