ITALIAN midfielder Alberto Aquilani played for 15 minutes last night on his long-awaited Liverpool debut.

The £20million signing from Roma was on the bench for the reserves’ home match with Sunderland at Prenton Park.

Liverpool won 2-0 courtesy of a fine free-kick from Daniel Pacheco and a header from defender Robbie Threlfall from another Pacheco free-kick. But all eyes, including those of co-owner George Gillett, were on Aquilani, who replaced Swedish winger Alex Kacaniklic in the 75th minute.

His contributions to the game included a clever backheel, a couple of neat passes and a stunning cross-field ball, before he disappeared down the tunnel with a broad smile on his face and club doctor Mark Waller’s arm around his shoulder.

Aquilani joined Liverpool in August as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who joined Real Madrid. But he arrived while still recovering from a summer knee operation and had not kicked a ball in anger before last night.

Benitez admits Aquilani has taken longer to recover than expected, but the 25-year-old had been in full training for a week before the game.

He is not being lined up for a surprise first-team debut against Manchester United on Sunday though.

LIVERPOOL RESERVES: Hansen, Darby, Threlfall, Ayala, Mavinga, Irwin, Eccleston, Amoo (Weijl 87), Saric (Brouwer 64), Pacheco, Kacaniklic (Aquilani 75). Subs: Mendy, Bouzanis.