Aquilani set for Liverpool debut.

Byline: IAN DOYLE

ALBERTO AQUILANI is poised to make his long-awaited Liverpool debut this evening - after admitting to a "difficult" start to his Anfield career.

Aquilani will be on the substitutes' bench as Rafael Benitez's side continue their Carling Cup quest with their fourth round clash at Arsenal.

The 25-year-old has yet to appear for the first team following his pounds 20m arrival from Roma in August, having continued his rehabilitation from an ankle operation towards the end of last season.

But Aquilani played 15 minutes for the reserves against Sunderland last week, and Benitez is now planning to hand the Italy international his chance at some stage at the Emirates.

"Alberto will be with us," said Benitez, who is likely to make a raft of changes this evening. "He is improving his fitness, so he's in the squad.

"He cannot start 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.

"We can see in every training session that he has quality, game intelligence and good movements. He is a different kind of player for us.

"We talk about using Continued on Page 40

From Back Page Gerrard deeper sometimes, but maybe in Aquilani we have a player who can play there and pass the ball really well in the final third."

After his arrival, Aquilani was expected to be available a month into the new season until further scans revealed his ankle problem was worse than initially feared.

But the Italian is desperate to begin life properly at his new club, and said: "It was good to play for the reserves because I haven't played for a long time, but to play for the first team is something different again and I am looking forward to that.

"I really want to play, but I need to be patient - I know the time will come forme.

"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."

Aquilani added: "I want to thank all the players and the people at the club because they have been very helpful to me since I arrived here.

"Obviously as Andrea Dossena is here and speaks Italian, he has helped me, but I want to take the opportunity to thank every player.

"It has been difficult, but now I want to build up my confidence and I hope to bring out the best of my game here."

Dossena is one of several players hopeful of a role this evening with Benitez prepared to juggle his resources.

The defender has been sidelined for the past month but both he and Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who has recovered from a knee problem, are in the squad this evening.

Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Martin Skrtel, Jay Spearing, Damien Plessis and Philipp Degen will come under consideration, with Diego Cavalieri once again replacing Pepe Reina in goal.

Both Glen Johnson and Fernando Torres came through Sunday's win over Manchester United unscathed and could figure.

But while Steven Gerrard remains sidelined Benitez is hopeful the skipper will return at Fulham at the weekend.

"Gerrard will not be available for this game but he is improving, so hopefully he can be ready for Saturday," said Benitez.

"It was difficult for both (Johnson and Torres) especially because it was a tough game, but they were training and we were taking care of them.

"Now they are training and I think they'll be available for the next games."

Martin Kelly (ankle) and Albert Riera (hamstring) are both still out and are unlikely to figure for the next fortnight.

Liverpool's midfielder Aquilani desperate for first appearance for Reds after pounds 20m move

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pounds 20m star Alberto Aquilani Rafael Benitez