Has Rafa Benitez been saving Aquilani for tonight?

Rafa Benitez has been easing Alberto Aquilani into action since signing him in the summer. But the £20m signing will surely get a start soon. His season in the first team has consisted of 15 minutes at the end of the League Cup defeat to Arsenal at the end of October and the final 7 minutes in the 2-2 home draw with Birmingham. Liverpool have to win to maintain serious hopes in this competition (and hope that Lyon stay motivated at Fiorentina despite qualification) so maybe Aquilani was deliberately in the Man City to keep him fresh for tonight.

Its a bit like a film where the hero leaves it really late before saving the day - and for Liverpool this is now really late. Aquilani is 10/1 to score first and 3/1 to score at any time - obviously his odds will drop if he is named in the starting XI in a couple of hours time - and if he isn't you will get your money back if there is a goal before he comes on*.

Liverpool start this game 3/10 hot favourites to win, with the draw 9/2 and a Debrecen home win a quite significant 9/1.

All odds from Bet365.

*Bets on players not taking part in the match will be void, as will bets where the selection comes on after the first goal is scored, regardless of whether the player scores in the game.