Aquilani in contention to face Wolves

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani could be set for his first Reds start against Wolves on Boxing Day.

Aquilani, a £20million summer signing from Roma, is battling to recover from an ankle injury. The 25-year-old is being lined up to face Wolves at Anfield on Saturday if he can overcome a calf injury which kept him out of last weekend's abject defeat at Portsmouth.

Benitez said: "Alberto picked up a calf injury in the win against Wigan and was not able to travel to Portsmouth.

"He is getting better but we will have to see how he progresses. He is certainly in contention to play against Wolves."

There was speculation that Aquilani was due to fly to Belgrade this week for treatment from the same specialist, Mariana Kovacevic, who has been used to treat Glen Johnson, Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera.

But bad weather put pay to flights to the Serbian capital and Benitez added: "Alberto was with us all week, working with our physios."

With Javier Mascherano serving a four-match suspension, while recovering from a knee injury that will keep him out for three weeks anyway, there is a gap to be filled in midfield if Aquilani can prove his fitness and satisfy Benitez that he is up to the challenge.

Benitez could field Steven Gerrard in a deeper midfield role and play Benayoun or Aquilani behind Fernando Torres.

Benitez again refuted claims that Torres will need an operation on his hernia problem, despite suggestions from Spain that national team officials want the striker to have surgery now to avoid him breaking down again and missing the World Cup.

"An operation is not in our minds," Benitez added.

"I was surprised to hear such suggestions from Spain because we have a good working relationship with their medical team.

"We will continue to manage Torres' problem and assess him on a game-to-game basis."

Liverpool have just four wins in 17 matches but when asked if he would resign if things did not improve, Benitez said: "We must start winning, against Wolves certainly, and then we will see a change."

With Manchester City manager Mark Hughes axed last weekend despite being in sixth place and replaced at Eastlands by former Inter coach Roberto Mancini , Benitez said: "I do not like to see any manager fired, it is important to give support to managers and to wait, to give them time.

"But things are changing in football, especially in England. However, it is important that people retain confidence in a manager."

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