Lucas Looking Forward To Alberto Aquilani's First Start For Liverpool

Brazilian eager to line up alongside summer signing...

07-Dec-2009 4:22:07 PM

More On :  Fiorentina, Liverpool, Alberto Aquilani, Lucas
Alberto Aquilani - Liverpool (Getty images)
Liverpool midfielder Lucas is keen to see Alberto Aquilani make his long-awaited first start for the Reds this week in the Champions League against Fiorentina.
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The Italian moved to Anfield from Roma in the summer but is yet to reach full match fitness after undergoing ankle surgery prior to the transfer.

He could be handed his first start at Anfield on Wednesday though, and Lucas is sure that he can have a positive impact on the team.

"It is exciting that Alberto is going to get his first chance and we are all looking forward to it - we will give him all the support and respect he needs," the Brazilian international told the Reds' official website.

"Hopefully he will do a really good job for us. When you have been out for a long time injured, it takes a while for you to get your rhythm back.

"But it is easy to see in training that he has got quality on the ball and we hope he is going to help us.

"People will make comparisons but he is a different player to Xabi [Alonso, who left Liverpool in he summer for Real Madrid]; he is more attacking and we can all see that he is going to play in a more advanced role.

"Obviously he came to replace Xabi but he is going to need some time to settle and we will do everything to make that happen quickly."

Liverpool endured a frustrating afternoon at Blackburn Rovers at the weekend, drawing 0-0.

Lucas maintains that Rafa Benitez's men did all they could to win the game though.

"We went there with confidence and we knew that we could win," he added.

"We had some chances in the second half but we just couldn't score and it's so disappointing.

"We were looking for the win to push on. It was a difficult game and they didn't really have any clear chances, and a positive thing is that we kept a clean sheet.

"We are six games unbeaten, too. But, still, we want to be winning games like these and we have to win them soon if we want to get back into the top four.

"We've got a Champions League game now and though we are out, we are determined to get a win to get a little bit more confidence."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK

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