Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson makes no apologies for putting long-term success in the Premier League ahead of progress in the Europa League.
The Reds left behind seven first-team players when they travelled to Turkey to face Trabzonspor in Thursday night's Europa League play-off second leg, which they lead only 1-0.
Captain Steven Gerrard sustained a back injury in Monday's defeat to Manchester City but forwards Fernando Torres and Milan Jovanovic were rested as a precaution.
With Javier Mascherano still omitted from the squad while transfer negotiations with Barcelona take place and Maxi Rodriguez (illness), Daniel Agger (concussion) and Danny Wilson all absent the squad looks a little light.
But Hodgson insists he is looking long-term - the club's medical staff have been advising him for weeks to ease Torres back - and if his team do not go through it will be for reasons other than the absence of the Spain striker.
"In leaving a player like Torres out of this game to make sure he can play on Sunday (against West Brom) I am not capable of saying this is the priority," admitted Hodgson.
"We decided it would be unwise for him to travel as he played virtually a full game on Monday night, the situation with his knee [last season] and the fact he is still in a pre-season training programme.
"We don't wish to stress his knee unnecessarily, which is why it would be unwise to play him Monday-Thursday-Sunday - especially as he has been selected for Spain to play Argentina in the next international week.
"No-one wants to go out at this stage of the season but we've been handed the most difficult draw.
"The task tomorrow will be a tough one but there is no doubt, come May, our league position will be of more interest than how well we fared in the Europa League so I don't make any apologies.
"But if we don't go through it will be because we won't have been good enough to secure our passage, or the attitude was wrong or the desire to progress was not there."
Liverpool could have made Thursday night's match much easier for themselves had Joe Cole not missed a penalty and Christian Poulsen had a goal disallowed.
The absence of key players only makes things more difficult and Hodgson is prepared for a testing examination.
"I've brought the strongest squad available at the moment but it is a test for them against very good and experienced opponents," he added.
"We have only a one-goal lead and we know Trabzonspor are a very strong team on their home ground."
