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Alberto Aquilani To Make Premier League Debut, Confirms Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez
The injury-prone midfielder will probably start from the bench...
08-Nov-2009 9:52:19 PM
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that new signing Alberto Aquilani will play some part in tomorrow’s Premier League fixture against Birmingham City at Anfield.
The Italian, who signed for the Reds from Roma over the summer for £20 million, has yet to make his full debut for the Merseysiders after suffering a knee injury.
Aquilani did feature briefly in Liverpool’s League Cup defeat to Arsenal last week and now looks set for another cameo after Benitez revealed he would "certainly be involved" in tomorrow’s clash.
"It could be the time to let the Anfield fans see Aquilani at last," the Spaniard told The Guardian.
"He has been getting fitter and had a short spell in a reserve game and then a few minutes at Arsenal in the League Cup.
"He has trained well. He does not have match fitness, but the only way to improve that is to play him in games. We have more players available now, so maybe he can be on the bench and then come on to change the game if necessary. He will certainly be involved."
The news is likely to be a huge boost to Liverpool fans who have been forced to watch their side struggling in recent weeks, winning only once in their last eight outings.
With pressure mounting on manager Rafael Benitez, tomorrow’s fixture is already attaining must-win proportions with the Reds having already lost five times in the Premier League.
The Italian, who signed for the Reds from Roma over the summer for £20 million, has yet to make his full debut for the Merseysiders after suffering a knee injury.
Aquilani did feature briefly in Liverpool’s League Cup defeat to Arsenal last week and now looks set for another cameo after Benitez revealed he would "certainly be involved" in tomorrow’s clash.
"It could be the time to let the Anfield fans see Aquilani at last," the Spaniard told The Guardian.
"He has been getting fitter and had a short spell in a reserve game and then a few minutes at Arsenal in the League Cup.
"He has trained well. He does not have match fitness, but the only way to improve that is to play him in games. We have more players available now, so maybe he can be on the bench and then come on to change the game if necessary. He will certainly be involved."
The news is likely to be a huge boost to Liverpool fans who have been forced to watch their side struggling in recent weeks, winning only once in their last eight outings.
With pressure mounting on manager Rafael Benitez, tomorrow’s fixture is already attaining must-win proportions with the Reds having already lost five times in the Premier League.
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