Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard claims £20 million Alberto Aquilani is just like departed midfield lynchpin Xabi Alonso.
The Italy international has failed to hit the heights manager Rafa Benitez had hoped since his arrival from Roma - but the opening months of the midfielder's tenure at Anfield has been blighted by an ankle injury.
Aquilani was hailed as Alonso's replacement after the Spaniard completed a summer switch to Real Madrid.
And despite the 25-year-old's slow start to his Anfield career, Gerrard says he has already seen enough from Aquilani to suggest he can replace Alonso.
He said: 'It’s going to take Alberto a while to get up to speed, with his injury problems, but the boy is a player, there’s no two ways about it.
'He sees a pass, he’s on the same wavelength and he can dictate the tempo of a game. I don’t want to tempt fate, but he’s very similar to Xabi.'
Aquilani needs to find his feet as quickly as possible with Liverpool facing an almighty battle to ensure they make a top-four spot this season.
The Reds have endured a disastrous campaign to date after their early exit from the Champions League and their below par Premier League performances that have killed their title hopes for another season.
The Italy international has failed to hit the heights manager Rafa Benitez had hoped since his arrival from Roma - but the opening months of the midfielder's tenure at Anfield has been blighted by an ankle injury.
Aquilani was hailed as Alonso's replacement after the Spaniard completed a summer switch to Real Madrid.
And despite the 25-year-old's slow start to his Anfield career, Gerrard says he has already seen enough from Aquilani to suggest he can replace Alonso.
He said: 'It’s going to take Alberto a while to get up to speed, with his injury problems, but the boy is a player, there’s no two ways about it.
'He sees a pass, he’s on the same wavelength and he can dictate the tempo of a game. I don’t want to tempt fate, but he’s very similar to Xabi.'
Aquilani needs to find his feet as quickly as possible with Liverpool facing an almighty battle to ensure they make a top-four spot this season.
The Reds have endured a disastrous campaign to date after their early exit from the Champions League and their below par Premier League performances that have killed their title hopes for another season.
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