Liverpool: Alberto Aquilani admits it has been a hard slog

Alberto Aquilani opened up on his Anfield frustrations and admitted his transition into English football had been made all the harder by Liverpool's recent struggles.

Held back by an ankle injury after his £20million summer arrival from Roma, the Italy midfielder is still trying to prove his form and fitness, failing to last the full 90 minutes in Wednesday's 2-0 home win over Tottenham.

While skipper Steven Gerrard is ready to return from injury at Wolves next Tuesday, manager Rafa Benitez may be concerned by Aquilani's admission that he has found it hard going in the Barclays Premier League.

'Ideally, I would have been able to start playing in a team who were winning matches,' he said. 'Instead, by the time I was fit to play, the team were going through a difficult period so the transition has been a lot harder.

'That's football, and the risks are the same with any move. But as a foreign player, moving to a new country in a new league with different team-mates, it would have been easier for me if I were starting my Liverpool career in a winning team.

'It hasn't been that way, so the pressure has been on me to produce performances straight away. When I have played, I know I can do a lot, lot better. I understand that some great players who have done well in Serie A have come here in the past and struggled, but I am still regaining my fitness after a long time away from football.'

Gerrard confirmed that he is right on schedule to reclaim his place in midfield after a hamstring strain in the FA Cup defeat by Reading.

'It is always a nightmare for me when I am injured and cannot help the team,' he said.

'But now I am hoping to return in time for the Wolves game. That is my target.'

Liverpool's loan move for Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones is still on course, although the clubs have yet to finalise the structure of the deal that will eventually give Sunderland £12m.


Benitez is also in the market for another midfield player but initially he would only be able to make it a loan deal.

Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici, however, has snubbed a move to Anfield as he did not want to be second in line to Pepe Reina.

Australia keeper Federici, 24, who impressed Benitez in Reading's shock 2-1 replay win at Anfield, said: 'I've worked so hard to be number one so why would I want to go up there and sit on the bench? It's fantastic to be linked with a team like Liverpool but I'm a Reading player and I am sure I will be for a long time.'

Liverpool starlet Mikel San Jose is set to join Athletic Bilbao on a permanent deal. The midfielder joined Liverpool from Bilbao in 2007 and played two seasons in the reserves before being loaned back to Bilbao in August last year.

San Jose, 20, has impressed during his time back in Bilbao and is eager to return full time. He wants a four-year contract but will cost around £2.5m.

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