Aquilani keen to make Reds’ bow
The £20million (€22m) midfielder, who joined Liverpool from Roma in the summer, has spent the season so far recovering from an ankle operation.
Manager Rafael Benitez has included the 25-year-old in the squad for the fourth round clash at Emirates Stadium, although he has warned Aquilani may have to accept just a few minutes of action in north London.
Aquilani said: “Waiting for my debut has been difficult but now I want to build up my confidence and I hope to bring out the best of my game here.”
Having Aquilani fit is a second major boost for Benitez after the 2-0 Premier League victory over champions Manchester United on Sunday eased the pressure on the Spaniard.
Aquilani watched that victory and said: “It was incredible to be at the stadium on Sunday. It was one of the best games I have seen so far. I don’t normally like to watch a match inside a stadium when I am not playing, but I really enjoyed Sunday.
“When I was in Rome, although the stadium was bigger, it did not have the same atmosphere as here. Because the fans are closer to the pitch at Anfield, you can feel the atmosphere better.
“It was very important to win against United and hopefully it can give us more confidence.”
Aquilani made his first appearance in a red shirt last week in a 15-minute run out in the reserves’ win against Sunderland at Prenton Park.
He added: “It was good to play for the reserves because I had not played for a long time, but to be in the first team is something different again and I am looking forward to that. I will be very happy when I make my debut. This is my job, it’s what I am here to do and I am looking forward to it.”
Benitez is delighted to have Aquilani available and said: “He will be with us. He is improving his fitness so he is in the squad.
“He cannot start a game at this moment but he will be there and maybe we can give him some minutes. If it’s possible we will try to use him.”
Benitez believes Aquilani will eventually add a new dimension to his midfield.
He said: “We can see in every training session that he has quality, game intelligence and good movement. He is a different kind of player for us.
“We talk about using Steven Gerrard deeper sometimes but maybe in Aquilani we have someone who can play there and pass the ball really well in the final third.”
Gerrard will miss tonight’s game as he continues his recovery from a groin injury, but is expected to return at Fulham on Saturday.
Martin Kelly (ankle) and Albert Riera (hamstring) are also out while Javier Mascherano is serving a one-match suspension.
Fabio Aurelio will play in midfield while Benitez also expects to have Greek international Sotirios Kyrgiakos available.
The central defender was feared to be facing a six-month absence with a knee problem but the injury has proved not as bad as first feared.
Kyrgiakos has been training with the first team squad this week, as has Andrea Dossena, who could also figure against Arsenal.
Glen Johnson and Fernando Torres came through Sunday’s victory over United without suffering a recurrence of previous injuries.
Benitez added: “It was difficult for both, especially because it was a tough game, but we were taking care of them. Now they are training and I think they’ll be available for the next games.”
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