Liverpool’s Aquilani desperate for Europa action

Alberto Aquilani intends to make up for lost time by playing a crucial role as Liverpool look to salvage their season, but may have to sit out Thursday’s crucial Europa League clash with Lille after picking up a virus.

Having scored his long-awaited first goal for the club in Monday’s 4-1 win over Portsmouth, Aquilani is desperate to make his presence felt between now and the end of the season.

The Italian international’s first year in English football has been blighted by injury to such an extent that, almost eight months after his 17-million-pound move from Roma, the Portsmouth game was only his fifth start on the Premier League stage.

But just as Aquilani thought his fitness problems were over and that he could become a major influence in Liverpool’s critical run-in, the midfielder has been laid low by a bug.

Rafa Benitez’s stuttering side must overturn a 1-0 deficit when they entertain Lille in the deciding leg of their Europa League last 16 tie at Anfield on before facing Premier League leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Aquilani has been used sparingly by Benitez since recovering from a serious ankle injury but he has declared himself fit and available as Liverpool battle to secure a top-four finish in the league and a place in next season’s Champions League.

“When I arrived I said I wanted to score in front of the Kop and I?m really happy to have done so,” said Aquilani.

“The main thing is that the team played well against Portsmouth and won, though.

“I have had to wait a long time and it has been a difficult season for me, arriving with an injury, but I have felt ready to play for a long time.

“My chance came against Portsmouth but the main reason I am happy is because we won, we scored four goals and we played well.

“It has to be the start of a run to the end of the season. We played well, so we are happy, but now we have a very difficult game on Sunday.

“Is that the real Alberto Aquilani? I don?t know. Every player can always do more, can?t they?”

Aquilani insists he is fitting into Liverpool’s system and believes he is developing a useful understanding with Liverpool’s 15-goal striker Fernando Torres.

“Fernando is a great player, and so is Steven Gerrard, so it is easy to play with them and all of the other players, too,” added Aquilani.

“I do feel I can work well with Fernando.”

The Europa League represents Liverpool’s last hope of avoiding a fourth successive season without silverware.

Benitez’s side scored three times in six first-half minutes to destroy Portsmouth and Jose Reina is demanding the team shows a similar ruthless steak against Lille.

Eden Hazard’s late goal gave the French club, two points adrift of leaders Bordeaux in the French title race after beating Grenoble 1-0 on Sunday, a narrow advantage from the first leg.

“It was an incredible six minutes against Portsmouth but we have to make sure we repeat that on Thursday and Sunday,” said Liverpool’s Spanish international keeper.

“We deserved some criticism because obviously things haven’t been going as we wanted, but we know this squad is more or less the same as last season, so we can perform well and play good football.

“Now we have to prove it. We have to keep this momentum.”

Lille defender Adil Rami is relishing another crack at silencing Liverpool attacker Torres.

“You have to be so careful with him,” the Corsican-born centre-back told uefa.com.

“He’s good in the air, he’s strong and he imposes himself. Above all, you can’t let him turn because when he does he runs at 2,000 kilometres an hour!

“But I did pretty well. Apart from one moment in the first half when I tried to take the ball past him, I managed to keep my concentration.”

Rami’s fellow defender Aurelien Chedjou meanwhile issued a note of warning to Liverpool.

“With all the respect that we have for Liverpool we have the ability to come away from Anfield with a result.”