Aquilani ready to make Anfield home

Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani says he was ‘pushed’ out on loan by the club, but is keen to prove himself to new manager Brendan Rodgers.

The 28-year-old, who was bought by Rafael Benitez as a replacement for Xabi Alonso in August 2009, has not featured for the Merseyside club in a competitive game since the former Benitez’s departure two years ago.

Since then, Aquiliani has enjoyed loan spells at Juventus and AC Milan, but he is now keen to finally prove his worth at Anfield after struggling for opportunities in the past.

“How can you pay 20 million pounds for a player and this player is never taken into consideration?” he told the BBC.

“I never asked to leave but I was always pushed by the club. I am here and I would like to play for Liverpool but it doesn’t depend only on me.”

Having played 45 minutes of Liverpool’s 2-1 friendly defeat by Roma on Wednesday, the Italy international is keen to put the frustrations of previous seasons behind him and start to pay back the large investment the club made in him

“The situation changed after Benitez left,” Aquliani said. “In past years, I felt forced out. I never asked to go on loan but they made it clear it was better for me to go.

“I think Liverpool people have to know that I have never said I wanted to leave the city because my family and I were not happy here. This is not true.

“I cannot say I have unfinished business in English football because I really never played but, the little I did, I believe I was able to show to Liverpool fans that I have quality and that I could have helped the team.”