Following defeat to Fiorentina on Wednesday, Liverpool's supporters could at least take heart from the performance of Alberto Aquilani in what was his first start for the club. But the player himself has expressed worry about how smoothly he will integrate into the team, claiming their current malaise has made it "difficult" for him to impress immediately.
The midfielder completed 76 minutes of the 2-1 loss to La Viola – a result that saw Liverpool complete an abrupt and abysmal Champions League campaign with just seven points – and showed with his passing in particular that he could well be a worthy replacement for Xabi Alonso.
The ankle injury that has delayed the 25-year-old's progress since arriving from Roma in August for £20m has now all but cleared, but Aquilani believes a lack of confidence and momentum among his new team-mates means it will still be some time before he is performing at his very best.
"It is a difficult time for me because we are in a difficult place at the moment," said Aquilani. "That makes it harder for any player to start with a new side."
Those are hardly the words Anfield regulars will want to hear. They have placed great hope in Aquilani's arrival into the first-team rescuing Liverpool's season, starting with the visit of Arsenal on Sunday.
Such has been Rafael Benítez's cautious use of the Italy international that he may not even start the weekend fixture – prior to Wednesday, he had been restricted to three substitute appearances – but Aquilani is confident that he will eventually maintain a regular role in Liverpool's midfield and that the team can get out of their current rut.
The loss to Fiorentina, which was secured through an injury time goal from Alberto Gilardino, means Benítez's side has now won just two of their past seven fixtures in all competitions.
"This is not the season I was expecting when I signed for the club, that's true" Aquilani said. "I was expecting to play in the Champions League and to find ourselves competing for trophies. But it is a long season and I'm really happy to have come through my first game. It's great to have finally got on to the pitch with players like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and there's no fear that it [his ankle] will flare up again. I know it's better, so I'm not worried at all about that.
"I have plenty of reasons then to be positive about where the team is going. We have a lot of things to improve on but we also have all the ability we need to get better. With the players we have available to us, we can only get better. I don't have any doubts about that at all.
The Italian added: "Personally, I hope I can play against Arsenal. I feel now that I need to play, play, play because I'm in a new team. The more I play, the better I'll get and the fitter I'll be. That is for sure. I am here at Liverpool to make a difference and that is what I want to do, to help them at this difficult time."
Should Aquilani start on Sunday he will almost certainly play alongside Javier Mascherano. After a slow start to the season, the Argentina captain is once again showing the form that has seen him established as one of the finest holding midfielders in the world.
As such, it is hardly a surprise that Benítez last week indicated Liverpool's desire to extend the 25-year-old contract at Anfield, which has two years to run.
It will be a further worry for Benítez, then, that the player yesterday refused to commit his future to the club he joined from West Ham two years ago.
"I just talk about football – not about contracts or money. I want to play," said Mascherano. "I am playing for Liverpool, I am a Liverpool player and, like the manager says, I have two more years on my contract, so I think I don't have to say anything else. I will continue playing and trying to give my best for Liverpool."
Barcelona are known to be admirers of the San Lorenzo-born player and made tentative inquires into his availability last summer only for Benítez to dismiss them immediately.
Mascherano, it is believed, was keen on a move to Camp Nou then and following a thus far disappointing campaign for Liverpool, who currently sit seventh in the Premier League, may decide to move on should the Spanish club come in for him again. While a switch during the January transfer window is thought to be unlikely, Mascherano could well depart from Liverpool in the summer.
