Sunday, July 25, 2010

Alberto Aquilani Facing a Challenging Season at Liverpool

Italian central midfielder Alberto Aquilani is yet to get back his best in Liverpool shirt since his move to the Merseyside club from Roma last year for a transfer fee of £17 million. However, new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is pretty much hopeful of Aquilani ahead of the next season.

Alberto Aquilani played 25 matches for Liverpool in all competitions last season. His poor form also cost him a place in Italy’s World Cup squad. However, the 26-year-old has a good chance to secure a first team place under Hodgson as Javier Mascherano is planning to move away from Liverpool to Inter Milan this summer.

Manager Roy Hodgson is also expecting him to cement his place in the regular first eleven. In fact, Hodgson kept him in the first eleven in their first pre-season friendly match against FC Grasshopper in Switzerland recently. There is every possibility Hodgson would start Aquilani in Liverpool’s Europa League qualifier this Thursday.

With key players like Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Joe Cole and Fernando Torres absent, Hodgson would have to keep faith on some of his fringe players like Lucas and David Ngog in Thursday’ match.

Overall, Alberto Aquilani has a very challenging season ahead of him and he would like to capitalize on even a slightest of opportunity coming his way to clinch a regular first team place at Anfield and get his place back in Italy national team.

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