Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez assures Alberto Aquilani over lack of action

RAFA BENITEZ today moved to defuse the mystery surrounding Alberto Aquilani’s prolonged absence from Liverpool’s starting line-up – saying he won’t risk players who are not fully fit.

The Italian midfielder has been limited to just 21 minutes of action since joining the Reds in a £17m deal from Roma in August due to a major ankle problem.

Aquilani, though, has been a constant figure on the bench in the past month yet, much to the curiosity of supporters, Benitez has not given him any significant time on the pitch.

It has left many wondering if Aquilani will get his first start this side of Christmas but Benitez insists there is nothing sinister behind his lack of involvement.

Quite simply, the manager has explained that, so tight have some recent games been, it would have been a gamble to pitch an unfit player into battle with the stakes so high.

“It’s more simple than people think,” said Benitez. “He has been out for longer than we expected and, because he has been injured during the summer, he couldn’t train properly.

“Now it is much better and it is a case of improving his match fitness. We want to play him and we thought we might have been able to do that with the reserves at Wigan.

“That was called off (last week) but we had some games at Melwood and he played 45 minutes against our reserves last week. We are trying to improve him as quick as we can.

Liverpool block Mascherano from facing Catalunya

Liverpool have refused to release midfielder Javier Mascherano for Argentina's friendly against Catalunya.

Mascherano, who is captain of Argentina, was named by Diego Maradona in the squad for the showpiece match, which takes place on December 22.

But with Catalunya, who are coached by Johan Cruyff, an autonomous Spanish region and not a country, the fixture is not recognised by FIFA.

And that has prompted Liverpool to withdraw Mascherano, given the fixture comes between the Premier League visit to Portsmouth on December 19 and the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day.

Gerrard: I’m happy on and off pitch at Liverpool

Despite their disappointing season, Steven Gerrard insists he's happy at Liverpool.

There's been talk that Gerrard should seek a move away from Liverpool if he wants to win major trophies.

But he told TalkSport: At the moment I’m really happy at the club. Obviously I’m not happy with the league position we’re in as captain and we want to certainly improve that but I’m really happy on and off the pitch down here at Liverpool.

"I’m really proud to be captain and no more than anyone I’m desperate to turn our fortunes around this season and get back up to the top of that league.”

Torres poised for comeback

Fernando Torres has returned to full training with Liverpool and is in line for a comeback at Blackburn on Saturday.

The Spanish striker has been undergoing three weeks of intense treatment on his serious groin injury and has only been involved in fitness work with the club's physios up until now.

But at the Melwood training complex, Liverpool's top scorer took part in a full session, and the club were more than happy to post a selection of pictures of Torres' work-out on their website.

Boss Rafael Benitez said: "The position over Torres is very positive and he was feeling good.

"We will see how he is in the next training sessions but it seems as though things are going well."

Premier League - Match facts: Blackburn v Liverpool

All the key facts and stats ahead of the Premier League clash at Ewood Park.

Blackburn and Liverpool have met 15 times in the Premier League at Ewood Park, with five wins each and five draws.

However, Rovers have only won one of the last 21 league meetings with the Reds home and away.Fernando Torres has scored three goals in two Premier League appearances against Rovers.Blackburn have been caught offside more often than any other team in the top division, 52 times.Liverpool have only won two of their last seven Premier League matches.

The Reds are the only team not to have lost a Premier League North-West derby this season, having won four and drawn one.

Rovers have conceded only 13 Premier League goals at home in the whole of 2009, fewer than Liverpool have at Anfield (15).Of all the shots inside the Blackburn area this season, 54 per cent have resulted in goals.
Liverpool are averaging 513 passes per game in the Premier League, more than any other side.
Blackburn have conceded an average of only 4.6 corners per game in 2009-10, only the 'Big Four' have averaged fewer.