Premier League problems with TEN first team players - VIDEO

Ten of their Premier League squad – including Mario Balotelli, Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard - have remained at Melwood for varying reasons this week.It provides Rodgers with the quality time he needs to arrest an alarming slide so far this season which has seen Liverpool lose three Barclays Premier League games and one in the Champions League at Basle.Top of his agenda ought to be integrating Balotelli – not called up by Italy again – into his system alongside Sturridge, who is coming back from injury. Balotelli is yet to score domestically and his form is of growing concern.Liverpool are already nine points behind league leaders Chelsea, who only have three players available to train. Jose Mourinho is off on holiday while the majority of his squad are away with their national sides. Only Didier Drogba, John Terry and Mark Schwarzer would be available for mornings at Cobham.Louis van Gaal could probably afford a holiday too after Sportsmail’s research – which takes into account the 25-man squads (which don’t include players under 21) published last month – revealed Juan Mata, Rafael and Antonio Valencia are the only first-team regulars available at Carrington.Four Arsenal stars are still with the club, but the Gunners are nursing them back from injuries. Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and Mathieu Debuchy remain on the treatment table, with Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby and Per Mertesacker training.The findings also shine a light on the difficulties facing Queens Park Rangers this season. Although the majority of their 25 named players are seasoned international players, just three have been called up by their respective countries.Leroy Fer, Eduardo Vargas and Mauricio Isla have escaped west London with Harry Redknapp’s side propping up the division.(dailymail.co.uk)Bakudaily.Az