Aquilani Liverpool career set to take off

Rafa Benitez has predicted Alberto Aquilani's Liverpool career is ready to take a big step forward – and feels his "desire" can have an impact on the rest of the squad.

The Italian midfielder's travails with illness and injury this season have been well documented and it was typical of his fortunes that a stomach bug prevented him building on the promise of his goalscoring display against Portsmouth.

However, Liverpool certainly looked a more adventurous side when Aquilani came on as a substitute at Old Trafford last Sunday and there is no doubt he will get further opportunities to impress before the end of the campaign.

But Benitez is pleased with how Aquilani has progressed during the course of the last month and feels the 25-year-old has now appreciated what it will take for him to become a success on Merseyside.

"It was a shame he was sick because he had been good for the performance (against Portsmouth)," said Benitez. "You can see he wants to improve and it is important for us to have another player pushing.

"We need players with quality to help us improve until the end of the season. Alberto has got desire and he is working very hard. When we have him available, he can give us a different approach on the pitch in different games."

Aside from the goal he smashed into the Kop net, Aquilani's passing and vision caught the eye in his last start and should he maintain the positive impression, he could be in line for a prominent role when Sunderland visit this weekend.

"Physically you could see he coped with a lot of running last time and it was much better," said Benitez.

"It is a question of time (when he will be at his peak). It is disappointing that he was ill and missed out against Lille but we are hopeful he will continue to improve and play more games before the end of the season."

Meanwhile, Jay Spearing has joined Championship side Leicester City on loan until the end of the season in a bid to gain more first team experience.

The 21-year-old midfielder could make his debut for the fourth-placed Foxes against Reading tonight and he will link up with former Anfield team-mate Jack Hobbs at the Walkers Stadium.

Spearing has made seven appearances for Liverpool's first-team, with his last senior run out coming as a late substitute for Yossi Benayoun in the 2-0 Boxing Day victory over Wolves.

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