Wednesday, 2nd December 2009

Under-fire Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has defended his decision to continually keep new-signing Alberto Aquilani on the sidelines despite declaring the 25-year-old fit to play since Liverpool’s defeat to Arsenal in the Carling Cup back in late October. The former Roma midfielder, who was brought in to replace the outgoing Xabi Alonso, has yet to play a full 90 minutes for his new club.

“He has been out for longer than we expected and, because he has been injured during the summer, he couldn’t train properly. We want to protect the player but, at the same time, we want to keep winning games. He understands that he needs to be a little bit fitter before he can play,” Benitez told the Daily Telegraph.

Aquilani however, looks certain to enjoy his first run-out for The Reds next week, when Liverpool face Florientina, in a dead rubber Champions League tie at Anfield.

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