RAFAEL BENITEZ has earmarked Liverpool’s Champions League dead rubber against Fiorentina as the long-awaited full debut of Alberto Aquilani.

Aquilani has yet to start a game for the Anfield outfit since his £20million summer signing from Roma.

The midfielder underwent an ankle operation earlier in the year and Liverpool have been careful not to rush him back into action.

Aquilani made his debut with a 14-minute cameo from the bench in the Carling Cup defeat at Arsenal in late October, but has since been restricted to minor substitute roles against Birmingham City and Debrecen.

The Italy international was once again an unused substitute at Everton, prompting concerned rumblings from sections of the Liverpool support.

With Liverpool braced for a physical examination at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, it’s unlikely Aquilani will be risked at Ewood Park.

But the 25-year-old has been tentatively slated for a first start when Fiorentina visit Anfield next Wednesday for the final Champions League group game.

Explaining Aquilani’s lack of action, Benitez said: “It’s more simple than people think. He has been out for longer than we expected and, because he has been injured during the summer, he couldn’t train properly.

“Now it is much better and it is a case of improving his match fitness.

“We want to play him and we thought we might have been able to do that with the reserves at Wigan.