The curious case of Alberto Aquilani

Three seasons out of the champions league, third manager in four seasons, and a lot of negativity all around the club, sums up Liverpool Football Club over the last half decade. With top players making the choice of moving away from the club, top talents deciding against joining the club, Liverpool F.C. is definitely facing its worst time since the late sixties, when Liverpool were at the helm of English and European football for almost three long decades.

Xabi Alonso, one of Liverpool’s finest signings in the Rafa benitez period, as has been proven by his departure to Spanish giants Real Madrid, was the key to Steven Gerrard’s success in the final third of the pitch. Alberto aquilani was touted a, ‘as good, if not better’ replacement for the Spanish magician. But with an injury sustained prior to the signing, it ruled him out of the start of the season. Liverpool fans had to wait as long as 7 months to get a glimpse of the highly rated Italian.

Aquilani made his debut in an FA cup third round game against Arsenal, for as few as 13 minutes of regulation time, plus stoppage time. It was the only positive from a disappointing night at the Emirates stadium.

With steady performances against Birmingham city in a 2-2 draw, a match winning performances against Portsmouth and an extra time goal against Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi finals, Aquilani made himself one of the fans favorite players in the team. The fans delight was evident from the chants at different matches and the entire city was looking forward to seeing the Italian maestro weave his magic in the season that would follow.

A typically poor season, with no champions league football and not challenging for the title had cost the then manager Rafa Benitez his job, and was replaced by Roy Hodgson.

Roy Hodgson’s arrival was not treated with the greatest of regard by Liverpool fans all over the globe. Most of them thought this was a mistake. Roy had his own plans. He sent Aquilani off on a loan term to Italy, feeling that the talisman needed more game time. Though it was evident that giving him game time in a place where he has a contract for 5 years should and would have been the best thing to do, Hodgson thought otherwise. With no creative midfielder in the team other than Steven Gerrard, who had to dig deep in that midfield to get things going, goals became hard to come by. Liverpool suffered a pathetic 5 months having touched the lows of the relegation zone.

The season was revived by the sacking of Roy and the arrival of Kenny Dalglish. He was one of the fan favorites, a legend at the club, also one of the best ever forwards the league had seen. He was handed the Liverpool job, when he managed to raise the club from 14^th to 6^th in a matter of 5 months. Aquilani, meanwhile, had played 33 games for Juventus, bagging the third highest passing proficiency in the league having completed 80 percent of the passes. In spite of that, juventus turned down Liverpool’s offer to buy him for 14 million pounds, and decided to send him back to Liverpool.

Kenny Dalglish was given 80million by the owners to spend on players. He decided to give Aquilani another term on loan, to another team, as the player wanted to stay in Italy prior to the Euro, with Milan the destination. Liverpool had a decent start to the season, with the manager stating that top 4 finish was the basic aim. But things went woefully wrong, Liverpool, in spite of the huge investments fell way off their own expectations and finished a position lower than they did last season. Though it was noticeable that Liverpool were indeed playing some beautiful football, to fans and owners alike, results were all that mattered.

With the sacking of Kenny dalglish, Liverpool has now a new manager in place, who will have new plans. Aquilani continues to be a question mark, as he was two seasons ago. Whether he fits in to new manager Brendan Rodgers plans remains an unanswered question, which only time can tell. What Liverpool fans today would want is a decision which will benefit the club. Signing a player for 20 million pounds, and selling him for 3.5 million (the price that Milan is ready to offer) is the most ridiculous piece of business. Liverpool fans would also argue that Alberto Aquilani has to repay the trust that the club and its fans have shown in him. Liverpool has always respected the decision of the player. It has succumbed to the whims and fancies of the player. Now it is Aquilani’s duty to repay everything that the club has given him, in the form of performances on the field, in case a suitable deal does not come.