Lucas aims to help Aqua shine

LUCAS today promised Liverpool’s squad will give Alberto Aquilani every assistance to ensure his first start will be a memorable experience.

Rafa Benitez intends to take the wraps off his £17m signing on Wednesday night when the Reds end their involvement in this season's Champions League against Fiorentina.

Aquilani has been limited to just 21 minutes of action so far since joining Liverpool from Roma and was once again a non-playing substitute in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Blackburn.

Supporters are craving to see what the Italian international, who was brought in to fill the void left by Xabi Alonso's departure to Real Madrid, will give to the side.

In his brief cameos so far, Aquilani has given the impression he will be an elegant figure and Lucas, like everyone else at the club, is looking forward to playing alongside him.

"It is exciting that Alberto is going to get his first chance and we are all looking forward to it - we will give him all the support and respect he needs," Lucas declared.

"Hopefully he will do a really good job for us. When you have been out for a long time injured, it takes a while for you to get your rhythm back.

"But it is easy to see in training that he has got quality on the ball and we hope he is going to help us.

"People will make comparisons but he is a different player to Xabi; he is more attacking and we can all see that he is going to play in a more advanced role.

"Obviously he came to replace Xabi but he is going to need some time to settle and we will do everything to make that happen quickly."

Benitez will inevitably ring the changes with nothing riding on the outcome of their meeting with Fiorentina but Lucas is likely to keep his place.

The Brazilian midfielder was a quietly assured figure at Ewood Park but despite his best efforts, Liverpool failed to follow up their victory against Everton six days earlier.

It has left the Reds with work to do to close down the teams in the top four and Lucas knows they cannot keep squandering points the way they did at Blackburn.

"We went there with confidence and we knew that we could win," said Lucas. "We had some chances in the second half but we just couldn't score and it's so disappointing.

"We were looking for the win to push on. It was a difficult game and they didn't really have any clear chances and a positive thing is that we kept a clean sheet.

"We are six games unbeaten, too. But, still, we want to be winning games like these and we have to win them soon if we want to get back into the top four."

"We've got a Champions League game now and though we are out, we are determined to get a win to get a little bit more confidence.”

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