More to come from Liverpool's little prince

THERE has been a banner in the corner of the Kop this season saluting the arrival of Alberto Aquilani.

It proudly states 'Il Principino - A Hero Has Arrived' and depicts the Italian as a gladiator ready for battle.

It's been about the only chance Liverpool supporters have had to see the lesser-spotted midfielder at Anfield over the past four months.

However, last night they finally got to have a proper look at the player dubbed the 'Little Prince' by the Roma fans who adored him.

This is who Rafa Benitez deemed worthy of splashing half of his summer transfer kitty on. The man tasked with filling the massive void created by Xabi Alonso's move to Real Madrid and transforming a miserable campaign in which one crushing setback has swiftly followed another.

Aquilani didn't set the world alight on his full Liverpool debut, but his promising 75-minute display at least provided some much needed cheer on another European night which had a bitter late twist in the tale.

Since the 25-year-old made the switch from Roma in a £18million deal back in August and signed a five-year contract he's had to endure one long tale of woe.

Rehabilitation following the ankle surgery he underwent back in May took much longer than anticipated.

Then a virus handed him another setback, while his bid to prove to Benitez he's in good enough physical condition for action has been painfully slow going.

Last night's first start arrived some 124 days after he first signed on the dotted line and seven weeks to the day since he pulled on a red shirt for the first time in a reserve team fixture against Sunderland.

The combined sum of his first team career since that run out at Prenton Park had been 25 minutes with a late cameo at Arsenal in the Carling Cup followed by even briefer outings against Birmingham and Debrecen.

Benitez has not so much wrapped his prized signing in cotton wool as put him in polystyrene blocks and covered him in bubble wrap.

The message from the manager had been clear. He wouldn't risk a player who wasn't match fit in finely balanced games.

Benitez believed it wouldn't do Aquilani or the team any favours.

Games against Everton and Blackburn were deemed too tight and too physical for him so he was left kicking his heels on the bench and told he needed to build up his fitness.

To his credit, Aquilani has remained patient and kept his thoughts to himself but his father, Claudio, recently revealed the family's frustration and insisted: "The only way he can get truly fit is to start games."

Benitez finally set him loose last night and there were flashes of star quality.

It was a glimpse of the future as Lucas was given the night off and Aquilani was paired in the middle of the park with Javier Mascherano. The pair appear to complement each other perfectly.

A sweetly struck pass to countryman Andrea Dossena eased any early nerves and then Aquilani just failed to climb high enough at the back post to convert Emiliano Insua's deep cross.

His movement was clever and he expertly drifted into space to pick up Dirk Kuyt's pass before being out-muscled in the box.

There was some classy touches and he spread play intelligently. One delightful back-heel into Steven Gerrard's path midway through the first half turned defence into attack.

Aquilani also showed he's not shy of a tackle with a couple of tasty clashes with Riccardo Montolivo, while his only sight of goal resulted in his 30-yard scorcher being blocked.

In the second half he faded but with so little football under his belt that was hardly a surprise. The standing ovation when he was replaced by Daniel Pacheco with 15 minutes to go was richly deserved.

Of course, this wasn't the most testing of examinations for Aquilani against a depleted Fiorentina side in a dead rubber.

A subdued atmosphere hung over Anfield all night and the only sense of anticipation surrounded the chance to see the new boy.

It was ironic that having been tempted to make the switch to Merseyside by the prospect of being involved in famous European nights, he would start off by appearing in one that meant absolutely nothing.

Aquilani has returned too late to save Liverpool's Champions League campaign but he has a crucial role to play in ensuring they take part in next season's competition.

The past four months have given him plenty of time to study the physical and frenetic nature of Premier League football.

A run of just three wins in the last 14 games says it all. The Reds are in desperate need of inspiration and creativity and they need Aquilani to provide it.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the views or position of Liverpool Football Club.