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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  • mykills

    disapointed he goes missing alot
    hides behind players sometimes and dosent go out of his way to find the ball like alonso did
    we need a quarter back player
    sneijder, pirlo, alonso etc.

  • Rob

    Very good, forward thinking. Just needs time on the pitch. I bet Rafa will rest him against Villa and play 6 defenders and Kuyt!

  • Rob

    Very good, forward thinking. Just needs time on the pitch. I bet Rafa will rest him against Villa and play 6 defenders and Kuyt!

  • MB

    25m? well, that’s a first.
    You don’t need to worry about exaggerations just look him up on the net and see what he can and will do for Liverpool, as he did for Roma. This team is about to fire..

  • MB

    25m? well, that’s a first.
    You don’t need to worry about exaggerations just look him up on the net and see what he can and will do for Liverpool, as he did for Roma. This team is about to fire..

  • SimplePieman

    Good debut. I think noone can tell if the guy is good in England yet after 2 debuts after so many months out injured – i doubt any athlete in any sport would be supreme but good signs I think.

    I’m an Alonso fan but even I cant forget Xabi was not playing well for a long time prior to last season and for all his skills he wasn’t some messiah that was holding Liverpool together. I believe Aquillani will give us what Xabi did and more in time. We’re lucky to have him if this is what he can do so far as a normal competent midfielder – when his strength and confidence grows the negative nellys will move on to something else.

  • SimplePieman

    Good debut. I think noone can tell if the guy is good in England yet after 2 debuts after so many months out injured – i doubt any athlete in any sport would be supreme but good signs I think.

    I’m an Alonso fan but even I cant forget Xabi was not playing well for a long time prior to last season and for all his skills he wasn’t some messiah that was holding Liverpool together. I believe Aquillani will give us what Xabi did and more in time. We’re lucky to have him if this is what he can do so far as a normal competent midfielder – when his strength and confidence grows the negative nellys will move on to something else.

  • pete taylor

    the music on the video is australian band EMPIRE OF THE SUN

  • pete taylor

    the music on the video is australian band EMPIRE OF THE SUN

  • afaris

    he’s indeed is more mobile than alonso, you can see that whenever there’s space,he will carry the ball forward, certainly much more than alonso ever did. he makes a short passs to player near him,he will take a more advance position, again something that alonso didnt do. i think he’s more of a central midfielder rather than a defensive one when he play, even if on paper his position is same as lucas’s or masch’s. was a little too safe sometimes but that is to expected, when youre lacking game time, its better to be safe than sorry. glad that pachece was on too. his first pass in the game almost put torres in! amazing little player, lets see more of him.

  • afaris

    he’s indeed is more mobile than alonso, you can see that whenever there’s space,he will carry the ball forward, certainly much more than alonso ever did. he makes a short passs to player near him,he will take a more advance position, again something that alonso didnt do. i think he’s more of a central midfielder rather than a defensive one when he play, even if on paper his position is same as lucas’s or masch’s. was a little too safe sometimes but that is to expected, when youre lacking game time, its better to be safe than sorry. glad that pachece was on too. his first pass in the game almost put torres in! amazing little player, lets see more of him.

  • Ruarir

    Exactly gerrard is an impact player aa is a creative player the gimp who counted the failed passes although like myself a pool fan can’t see or is too reactionary to know how to read stats he is a good player and the sooner two defensive midfielders is a foot note the better…. This is not a put down

  • Ruarir

    Exactly gerrard is an impact player aa is a creative player the gimp who counted the failed passes although like myself a pool fan can’t see or is too reactionary to know how to read stats he is a good player and the sooner two defensive midfielders is a foot note the better…. This is not a put down

  • Naz singapore

    Watch it live and was impressed with aquilani. Compare to alonso who was only excelant last season. Alonso was not even mentioned from the time he arrived till the beginning of last season, apart from 2005 in turkey. Our midfield is crap not because alonso left but the person taking his place is worse. Benitez is changing everyones natural position, Kyut, babel, benayon, aurelio, gerrard and yesterday pacheco. Learn from a. villa, every1 is in their natural position except for luke young against arsenal. So rafa is screwing it up. Admit it guys, could pool have scored if wolves were 11 men????

  • Naz singapore

    Watch it live and was impressed with aquilani. Compare to alonso who was only excelant last season. Alonso was not even mentioned from the time he arrived till the beginning of last season, apart from 2005 in turkey. Our midfield is crap not because alonso left but the person taking his place is worse. Benitez is changing everyones natural position, Kyut, babel, benayon, aurelio, gerrard and yesterday pacheco. Learn from a. villa, every1 is in their natural position except for luke young against arsenal. So rafa is screwing it up. Admit it guys, could pool have scored if wolves were 11 men????

  • redforlife

    @ Crimson flame Cheers mate. Some of the lads i work with think I’m mad mainly due to the fact i have a full club badge tattoo where my heart is.
    @ Afaris. Glad to see you comment on little Danny Pacheco. This young lad has a massive future ahead of him and will have a massive impact on the team in the next couple of years. Who would you like to see in the jan transfers.

  • redforlife

    @ Crimson flame Cheers mate. Some of the lads i work with think I’m mad mainly due to the fact i have a full club badge tattoo where my heart is.
    @ Afaris. Glad to see you comment on little Danny Pacheco. This young lad has a massive future ahead of him and will have a massive impact on the team in the next couple of years. Who would you like to see in the jan transfers.

  • vilas

    i think aquilani played well just what i expected from him. His passing abilities was just superb and i enjoyed watching him.I think he should continue that and play better against Aston Villa and i m sure he will.

  • vilas

    i think aquilani played well just what i expected from him. His passing abilities was just superb and i enjoyed watching him.I think he should continue that and play better against Aston Villa and i m sure he will.

  • 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.

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