Emre Can is expected to return to a more natural midfield role against Besiktas on Thursday night.
Vice-captain Jordan Henderson is the latest Reds midfielder to succumb to injury. Absent from the squad that has flown over to Istanbul because of a minor ankle injury, Henderson's knock adds to the growing list of midfield injuries.
With Lucas Leiva out for a number of weeks with a thigh problem and Steven Gerrard's hamstring injury, highly-rated youngster Jordan Rossiter, who was on the fringe of the first-team in cup competitions earlier this season, is set to sit at least two months out on the sidelines after an ankle injury.
Henderson's absence means Can, who has been utilised as a right-sided centre-back in Liverpool's back three, will be shifted further forward to partner Joe Allen in the centre of midfield.
The German has deputised exceptionally in defence, but put into a role that he admitted he prefers a few weeks ago, Can will be looking to carry his teammates towards the quarter-finals with another powerful performance.
Without Henderson, who hopes to back in the squad against Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League this Sunday, Martin Skrtel will most likely captain the Reds.
Rodgers has flown to Turkey to meet Besiktas for the second time within a week without a number of other key first-team players. Philippe Coutinho has been rested, with one eye being kept on the crucial clash against City. The Brazilian scored a stunning goal against Southampton last weekend, but has played 19 successive games and has been deemed worthy of a break.
Liverpool will also be without the services of French defender Mamadou Sakho. The 24-year-old missed out last weekend with a hip problem, and hasn't managed to recover in time for Thursday's second-leg.
It is expected that Dejan Lovren, who made his first start since December against the Saints, will therefore retain his position in the side. With Can going into midfield, Kolo Toure is also expected to come into the side.
Toure, who enjoyed African Cup of Nations glory with Ivory Coast last month, is likely to start for the first time since playing the full 90 minutes at home to Leicester City on New Years' Day.
Another who sits the game out is Glen Johnson, due to illness. He was another player who didn't train at Melwood on Wednesday morning and was not on the plane to Turkey later the same day.
Youngster Jordan Lussey and Jordan Williams have flown, with Liverpool lacking depth in the centre of the park and U21s stars Ryan Fulton, Cameron Brannagan and Jerome Sinclair will also make their way to Istanbul, after losing narrowly to Benfica in the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday.
Rodgers' Liverpool side currently have the advantage going into the return leg, after Mario Balotelli's 85th minute penalty handed them a 1-0 win at Anfield last week.