Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

• Ground:Anfield
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Aquilani injured for Europa clash

01 Apr 2010 - 10:03:38

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Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani will miss the club's Europa League quarter final first leg clash against Benfica on Thursday evening with a fresh ankle injury.

The £17million signing arrived from Italian side Roma in the summer with an existing ankle problem that forced him out of the final weeks of the 2008/09 Serie A campaign.

Despite returning to fitness and making eight starts and 11 substitute appearances, he has failed to shine at Anfield and his newest setback will further frustrate the Merseyside club's fans.

The Italy international picked up the injury in a routine training session on Wednesday morning and manager Rafael Benitez has decided to leave him off the plane for their tough trip to Lisbon.

"He will not be available for this game," Benitez said.

"He had a problem with his ankle and we have to fix it. It doesn't seem too serious but it's the same ankle as before and so we'll have to analyse the situation carefully."

Meanwhile 19-year-old defender Martin Kelly will undergo a knee operation and is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign.

He tore the meniscus in training on Saturday ahead of the 3-0 victory against Sunderland on Sunday.