Benitez hints at Aquilani start after Rovers bore draw

Rafael Benitez dropped a strong hint he will give midfielder Alberto Aquilani his long-awaited first start in a Liverpool shirt next week after a frustrating goalless draw away to Blackburn.

The Italian international, a 20 million pounds (22.1 million euros) pre-season signing from Roma has endured a frustrating start to his Anfield career after being troubled by injury.

Aquilani has been restricted to a handful of substitute appearances and, in a game that was crying out for quality, was left kicking his heels on the substitutes bench at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Benitez insisted the midfielder will start the Champions League game with Fiorentina at Anfield on Wednesday, Liverpool’s final game in the competition this season following their elimination.

Liverpool manager Benitez is also confident Spain striker Fernando Torres, who missed his fifth successive game against Blackburn with a niggling groin problem, will also feature against Fiorentina.

“Hopefully Torres will be available and maybe Aquilani will start,” said Benitez, after watching his side drop two crucial points in their efforts to finish in the top four of the English Premier League.

“It did cross my mind to play Aquilani against Blackburn.

“But this was a difficult and physical game and probably wasn’t the best for Aquilani,” the Spanish manager added.

“He has not been fit and has been lacking in match fitness. But he is nearing the time when he can start and it will be different at Anfield in front of our fans. It might be easier for him.”

Benitez admitted his side had dropped points rather than gained one against Blackburn.

The draw will do little to convince the club’s critics Liverpool are firing on all cylinders this season and are on course to secure a top four finish.

“We had chances and you have to score your chances,” added Benitez, who refused to criticise young striker David Ngog for his glaring second-half miss.

Meanwhile Sam Allardyce said he was pleased with the home side’s efforts.

It was the Blackburn manager’s first game back since undergoing minor heart surgery, which forced him to miss the previous four matches.

Allardyce was under orders from his doctor to spend the match sat in the directors’ box – away from the tension of the touchline.

“I have to be pleased with a point but we might have nicked it in the end,” said Allardyce. “We could have won on another day.

“Considering we went into this on the back of 120 minutes against Chelsea in mid-week (when they beat the Premier League leaders on penalties to advance to the semi-finals of the League Cup), it was a good effort.”