Analysis: Alberto Aquilani’s Full League Debut

By This Is Anfield On · 77 Comments · In Opinion, Videos

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Yesterday’s win over Wolves was hardly a vintage performance, or atmosphere, at Anfield but it was notable for the full league debut of Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani.

The £18m summer signing made his second start for the club, his first coming in the Champions League against Fiorentina earlier in the month, lining up alongside Lucas Leiva in the centre of midfield in Javier Mascherano‘s absence.

Signed as a replacement for Xabi Alonso after his departure in the summer things haven’t quite gone to plan for Aquilani thus far. Having suffered a longer recovery time than first expected, combined with finding his new team in a nightmare run of form and a confidence of crisis, he will no doubt be pleased to have made his first Premier League start at Anfield and to have got 85 minutes under his belt. With Mascherano suspended for the next 3 domestic fixtures this could provide him with an opportunity to force his way into the side.

One thing we have missed since Alonso’s departure has been a mixture of creative passing from the middle, the ability to switch the ball quickly and get the wide players into the game faster, something which Aquilani can hopefully bring to the team and displayed glimpses of yesterday. One pass in particular stood out when he hit a cross in for Benayoun which he was unfortunately unable to control. There were a couple of stray passes particularly later on as he tired but on the whole the performance was definitely promising.

Looking at the positions he took up, he often came deep to receive the ball from the centre backs but once he got the ball he wasn’t afraid to carry it, play a pass and then, crucially for me, advance ahead of the ball to receive it again. Back in the summer Rafa described him as being more mobile than Xabi and capable of playing ahead of the defensive midfielder and behind Gerrard, I think this was clear yesterday and bodes well for the future.

Below you can see his passing stats, courtesy of Guardian Chalkboards, and a video montage of his passing, courtesy of MilanKakaBaros.

Chalkboard:


Video:

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  • Crimson flame(gg)

    redforlife!of course your not mad!I have an Liverbird tatto on my chest too!So your not mad.
    Naz singapore!Can you stop saying the foolish name”Villa”?I hate that name OK?Where is the best position for Bable,Yossi,Fabio and Kuyt?When there is no quality wingers? so he is forced to use these guys as a winger and also i think Yossi and fabio are good for that position!But about Kuyt and Bable your are right they can do a better job as a striker especialy Rayan!
    David, Brighton!I think he dosen’t enough confidence in his abilities!He should try hard for that. He is a class player and liverpool needs this guy!
    Rob!I’m sorry for you opinion about a player like Kuyt.I think you forgot his goals!The goal against Milan in 2007final!and so many other goals and good games!He is tired just like Yossi.

  • mmmat

    hi, could u please let me know where u found these stats? thanks!

    • http://www.thisisanfield.com Matt

      mmmat, the stats are from the Guardian website.

  • mmmat

    hi, could u please let me know where u found these stats? thanks!

    • http://www.thisisanfield.com Matt

      mmmat, the stats are from the Guardian website.

  • David

    Alasatra, we are all expecting far too much from him too quickly including myself. Aqua is a great player and once he gets up to match fitness i guarantee you will change your mind by him. He has amaysin potential. Torres was the least impressive on the pitch!

  • David

    Alasatra, we are all expecting far too much from him too quickly including myself. Aqua is a great player and once he gets up to match fitness i guarantee you will change your mind by him. He has amaysin potential. Torres was the least impressive on the pitch!

  • God

    Aquilani is Class. If he can stay fit then he will do very well. Needs a couple of games to get into the swing of things, but evan so, you can see he is very good on the ball

  • God

    Aquilani is Class. If he can stay fit then he will do very well. Needs a couple of games to get into the swing of things, but evan so, you can see he is very good on the ball

  • HK

    Mascherano total out of form this season. He always lose the ball halfway can give the opponent to strike back. Pool lose lot of game because of his mistakes. If Aquilani can perform in the game with Astone Villa, leave Mascherano at bench or sell him should be a wise choice. Mascherano has no faith to Pool.

  • HK

    Mascherano total out of form this season. He always lose the ball halfway can give the opponent to strike back. Pool lose lot of game because of his mistakes. If Aquilani can perform in the game with Astone Villa, leave Mascherano at bench or sell him should be a wise choice. Mascherano has no faith to Pool.

  • foreverlfc

    Spot on David, Torres looked out of sorts, he let the wolves physical tackling get the better of him.
    Pacheco looked amazing, should play him up with Torres much more often, very Garcia like.
    Aquilani looked decent, just needs more playing time to get things to click, can’t wait for him to show us his shooting boots….

  • foreverlfc

    Spot on David, Torres looked out of sorts, he let the wolves physical tackling get the better of him.
    Pacheco looked amazing, should play him up with Torres much more often, very Garcia like.
    Aquilani looked decent, just needs more playing time to get things to click, can’t wait for him to show us his shooting boots….

  • Larrylp

    I think he showed great promise and he just needs time. He will be just as great as Alonso was for Liverpool.

  • Larrylp

    I think he showed great promise and he just needs time. He will be just as great as Alonso was for Liverpool.

  • Red Kenny

    Truth, Great post ..alastra is allergic to thinking or posting a positive reply to anything! I personally like the look of Aqua he always wanted the ball gave players options and tried to go forward when he could. I think it would be ridiculous to judge him on 2 games as we will know more in a few months and wont really know until next season when we will hopefully be back where we truly belong competing at the top table. Will he be able to tackle like alonso? get used to the pace of the game? get used to the players around him? and more importantly will he get game time when masch comes back? all these cant be answered now but how anyone can criticise what they have seen so far is beyond me…but im optimistic ..think we have a good player on our hands.

  • Red Kenny

    Truth, Great post ..alastra is allergic to thinking or posting a positive reply to anything! I personally like the look of Aqua he always wanted the ball gave players options and tried to go forward when he could. I think it would be ridiculous to judge him on 2 games as we will know more in a few months and wont really know until next season when we will hopefully be back where we truly belong competing at the top table. Will he be able to tackle like alonso? get used to the pace of the game? get used to the players around him? and more importantly will he get game time when masch comes back? all these cant be answered now but how anyone can criticise what they have seen so far is beyond me…but im optimistic ..think we have a good player on our hands.

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