Alberto Aquilani has asked for patience from Liverpool fans as he adjusts to the rigours of the Premiership. The Italian made his long awaited full debut for the Reds in their UEFA Champions League defeat to Fiorentina on Wednesday.
The former Roma star admits it will take time for him to build up his full fitness and make an impact following his ankle injury.
"For a football player it is very hard if you haven't played for seven or eight months," Aquilani told Sky Sports News..
"If you don't play the fitness is not good and the training is good, but the matches are different and I need to play and if you play more and more I get the fitness."
Aquilani admits that finishing in the top four of the Premier League is now their priority.
"That is very important for us," he continued, admitting they need to beat Arsenal on Sunday.
"It is important for us to take each match step-by-step. We have to win each match, we cannot look at the table and Sunday we need to win."
