Liverpool begin their competitive season in Macedonia on Thursday - 18 days before their first Barclays Premier League game - as they face FK Rabotnicki in the third qualifying round of Europe's second-tier competition.

Hodgson has not yet been able to work with all his players because those that played in the World Cup were granted a later summer break.

Players involved in the latter stages in South Africa have not returned to training while England's Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson only got back this week and have missed pre-season camp in Switzerland.

Hodgson has been advised that those players should not be considered for the trip to Skopje but the 62-year-old - who launched Fulham's run to the final at the same stage of the competition last season - wants to find middle ground.

Hodgson told the club's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv: "It's a little bit of a fight with them to some extent, in order to try and get them to free up more senior players, because their view is very clear that all of these players who are coming back to Melwood just after the World Cup shouldn't play in either of the two games.

"My point of view is that I want to go through in the competition and I might need some of these players, so there's a lot of compromise.

"I fully respect their opinion and in an ideal world I wouldn't even for one minute discuss it with them and I would take it at face value.

"If our first game was on August 15, I'd take it on face value that they don't want me to use these players in any friendly matches, and instead continue working with them and build up their level of fitness.

"But of course we've got official matches now and that's the difference."

The return leg against Rabotnicki takes place the following week, on August 5.

Liverpool find themselves having to qualify for the Europa League after finishing a disappointing seventh in the Barclays Premier League last season.

Hodgson will take a first look at new signing Milan Jovanovic in a friendly against German side Kaiserslautern tomorrow. The Serbia international joined the Reds for training last week following the end of his World Cup break.

Greece defender Sotirios Krygiakos is also set to start.

Hodgson said: "They did take part in the World Cup and came back a little later and I think we need to be a bit more careful with them than with some of the younger players.

"But having said that, I think they can play and they will be happy to play. They will start the game and we'll see how long we can keep them on for."

Liverpool offloaded one player today as Albert Riera ended his unhappy spell at the club by signing for Greek club Olympiacos.

The 28-year-old winger went from one extreme to the other as, after falling out of favour at Anfield, jubilant fans lined the streets to greet him in remarkable scenes in Athens.

Riera was frozen out at Liverpool after launching an outspoken attack on previous boss Rafael Benitez and then describing the club as a "sinking ship".

He is the second player disaffected by the Benitez regime to leave after the Spaniard's departure following Yossi Benayoun's sale to Chelsea.

He is thought to have been sold for £3.3million, with reports stating he has signed a four-year deal.

Riera joined Liverpool from Espanyol two years ago but failed to impress regularly, scoring just five goals in 56 appearances.

He was linked with Spartak Moscow last season but his wage demands were thought to have priced him out of a move.

Speaking about his motivation for the move, Riera said: "I am eager for titles and honours.

"I am comfortable with my decision and I will be playing with a group hunting for trophies."

On his extraordinary reception, he added: "I did not expect so many people, honestly. It was a surprise for me."