Aquilani on course to boost firepower; Manager optimistic about Italian's recovery for vital visit to Lyon: Liverpool FC is for keeps, says Reina.

Byline: NICK SMITH

RAFAEL BENITEZ is considering turning to Alberto Aquilani in a bid to revive Liverpool's Champions League campaign.

The manager will again be without captain Steven Gerrard, still suffering with a troublesome groin, and is hoping the Italian can boost his attacking options in a game Liverpool need to win.

Aquilani missed Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Fulham with a virus, just days after he made his long-awaited debut for the club in the Carling Cup loss to Arsenal last Wednesday.

Only a set of unlikely results in the remaining group games can save Benitez's side if they don't claim victory in France tomorrow, leaving the Spaniard keen to have as strong a squad as possible available.

Fernando Torres will travel to France with a party that also includes others who missed the trip to Craven Cottage through injury - Daniel Agger (back), Glen Johnson (calf), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and David Ngog (ankle).

A late decision will be made eon their availability but Albert Riera (hamstring), Martin Kelly (ankle) and Martin Skrtel (muscle) will join Gerrard on the absentee list.

A decision on whether the Anfield skipper needs an operation has been delayed but he is clearly being missed in the current run of six defeats in seven games, which is why Benitez hopes Aquilani can make a full recovery.

"Aquilani trained today but was a little bit weak," said Benitez. "Hopefully in two days' time he will be better.

"Gerrard won't travel to Lyon. He has no chance. He is improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but we have to wait two or three days and see how he r eacts.

"Skrtel has no chance. He has a small muscle problem. It's not too big but he is feeling something."

Benitez added: "Agger is improving - he will travel and we will then decide. He felt something in his back but it's much better now. We have to wait and see how he reacts.

"Fabio is improving but he still has a small problem in his calf, so we will have to wait.

"Ngog is much better, so he could be available.

"Johnson is training and working with the physios but he is a doubt at this moment. He will travel to Lyon and we will see."

Benitez, meanwhile, has again jumped to the defence of his decision to substitute Torres at Fulham with the score at 1-1. He had already bagged his 10th Premier League goal in the game but came off after 63 minutes as his manager was unwilling to run the risk of him aggravating the recent adductor injury he is still recovering from. "I was surprised with the critics after the game because Fernando has had problems in the last month after the international games," said Benitez. "We are trying to manage because he was close to having an operation. Still this morning, two days after the game, he is feeling something. "He is not comfortable. He has not got the power he had before, so we have to manage and try to protect him. "He cannot play well if you keep pushing him. Maybe if you push him he will be injured for a long time. "So, I am really surprised with the critics. When you talk about big names, people just analyse the names and not how the player is when he is on the pitch. He was not 100% fit. "We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don't have too many options. We have to keep working with him and the rest of the players." Meanwhile, Pepe Reina has revealed his desire to commit his future to Anfield. The goalkeeper is on the brink of tying up a new deal with the club and said: "My aim is to get a new contract in the future and I want to be here for many years. Apparently the club wants the same.

"It's already my fifth season here and that says it all, really. One of my daughters is a Scouser. I have some friends here and my wife and kids are happy. I have every reason to stay longer and of course I will. "Titles are what we are all here for. As a Liverpool player, you have to have these ambitions. Trophies are the most important thing, and the most important one is probably the Premier League. "Rafa Benitez is building something special here. He proved that when he came here - the club was one thing and now it's something totally different. We have grown up and we can still grow up a little bit more." Reina's words seem to conflict with the current form of Liverpool, particularly as they have already lost five Premier League games. No team has won the Premier League losing more than that number for nine years, and Champions League hopes are also looking slim given their precarious position in Group E. But Reina is refusing to give up hope on landing silverware this campaign. "It's not even close to being over," he said. "We have to go game by game. Now we must focus on Lyon, which is massive, and after that Birmingham is a must-win game.

"All of us have to keep everyone else's head up. "In weak moments, strong people have to appear. I want to be one of them and support my team-mates if they need it. "The key is to stay together. Belief is the word we need to use the most - belief in ourselves and our team-mates. "We were a bit unlucky on Saturday. We didn't play as bad as at other times. It was not even close to our worst game. "It's a tough moment but we have to stick together and try to sort things out on the pitch and in every single training session. We have pride in wearing this shirt and we have to defend it until the end. "Any defeat hurts someone with ambition and someone who is hungry for titles. But it doesn't matter how many times you fall down - what matters is how many times you get up and keep trying to be the best.

"That's what we have to do now. We have to go back to our principles, sort out the problems we're having and go back to being the Liverpool everyone wants." Titles are what we are all here for. As a Liverpool player, you have to have these ambitions PEPE REINA

CAPTION(S):

Rafael Benitez Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is confident Alberto Aquilani has shaken off his virus Pepe Reina is ready to commit his future to Liverpool