Benitez: Aquilani will start against Fiorentina

Rafael Benitez confirmed Alberto Aquilani will make his first Liverpool start in against Fiorentina at Anfield.

The Italian international arrived at Liverpool in the summer from Roma with an ankle injury however, with the midfielder fully recovered, Benitez is ready to hand him his first start.

Benitez said: “He will start tomorrow. He will do a proper warm-up on his own, and also with the fitness coach, so we will take care of him and he will be ready.”

Aquilani was on the bench for Liverpool’s last two league games against Everton and Blackburn Rovers.

“We decided we couldn’t take any risks with him,” explained Rafa. “It wouldn’t have been good for him or us.

“We were always considering playing him (against Blackburn), but when the game is so tight and physical, sometimes it can be worse for the player to play for 10-15 minutes.

“We wanted to protect him and give him the best opportunity to play well. Hopefully Wednesday will be the day.

“He has quality, good vision and is dynamic. It is a question of match fitness, but I think we will see some of these things against Fiorentina.

“If he can carry on training properly and play some games, we will see his quality.

“He is a player with experience at international level, which is important, but he is in a new country with different teammates, so he has to settle down and will need time.

“Each individual is different, but normally players need time.”

Got something to say? Submit your views below!

1. Alex says:

   8th December, 2009 at 6:05 pm

   2 months too late rafa …..

   Reply
2. reds says:

   8th December, 2009 at 11:48 pm

   if from now onwards until the end of season, aquilani can stay fit and help liverpool do some run of epl games (10+, and we will be in top 4), i wonder what fans, “fans”, medias, legends that previously has talked shit of rafa extra cautious approach, will say about it.
   one that i can predict is, they will AGAIN blame rafa for not starting him earlier which probably save our title and cl campaign.

   Reply
3. Stevie Torres says:

   9th December, 2009 at 1:14 am

   he should start EVERY games from now on.

   yeap, it took time for him to meet match fitness…now it takes time for him to adapt himself to the team as well.

   don’t expect too much during his very first appearance, the prince will come later.

   YNWA

   Reply
4. Guest says:

   9th December, 2009 at 4:48 am

   i doubt he will start against arsenal

   Reply
5. Guest says:

   9th December, 2009 at 4:50 am

   starting aquilani in a meaningless game to shut our mouth? wait till rafa win the title

   Reply

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