Aquilani - Villa game crucial

Liverpool midfielder enjoyed first Premier League start

Last updated: 29th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Aquilani - Villa game crucial

Aquilani: Villa game important

LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Watch Aston Villa v Liverpool live on Sky Sports 1, HD1 and online with Sky Player from 7.30pm on Tuesday.

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Alberto Aquilani admits Liverpool's game with Aston Villa is 'very important' to the club's season as he looks to continue his acclimatisation to English football.

The Italian import started his first Premier League fixture for Liverpool in the Boxing Day win over Wolves and played for most of the 90 minutes.

He could start Tuesday's trip to Villa Park, with the Reds currently five points behind their opponents, who also harbour hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

With Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez expressing his confidence that the club can finish in the top four this season, Aquilani outlined the importance of the Villa game.

Feeling good

"I really enjoyed the game as it was important for me; I want to improve my fitness," Aquilani told the Liverpool Echo after his start against Wolves.

"It was so different to anything I have experienced, as it was so quick and you never really had much time. The football we played was so fast.

"The most important thing, however, was that we won. We need to improve our confidence and we need to keep winning games to move up the table.

"It is crucial to take things step by step, but our aim is now to win three, four and five games in a row. If we can do that, we will see where that takes us.

"Now we have to face Aston Villa and it is a very important game for our season, but we are feeling good and it is important that we try to win."

The midfielder's fitness will be assessed before the match, with Benitez wary about demanding too much from the £20million man.

Worried

Benitez said: "Aquilani did well against Wolves, but he needs match fitness. He was trying to be involved, passing and creating chances, but the Premier League is difficult and he will settle down little by little.

"It is a difficult decision with the Villa game coming so quickly. Some of our players were very tired after the Wolves match, while some had little injuries. We will need to assess them all.

"We will have to manage them carefully, but clearly if Javier Mascherano is not available for the next three games through suspension, then Aquilani will obviously have more chance of time on the pitch.

"But against Wolves he was worried about his hamstring, he was concerned and I wanted to protect him. That is why we took him off."

Post to your View!

Be the first to post a comment on this story

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private