RAFAEL BENITEZ has shown the first signs of exasperation with Alberto Aquilani by suggesting the Liverpool midfielder’s latest problem is not merely physical but psychological.

The Italy international has started only eight times for Liverpool since his €22.5 million arrival from Roma and is sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in training on Wednesday.

Aquilani has complained of discomfort in the same ankle that required surgery last May and which forced him to miss the first three months of this season, although scans have so far failed to identify the cause of the problem. Benitez admits he is at a loss as to when the 25-year-old will be fit but indicated that a history of injury problems is affecting Aquilani.

“He was complaining of pain in his ankle and said he couldn’t train,” the Liverpool manager said. “We will have to talk with the doctors to see what’s going on because at the moment we don’t know.”

There are concerns that the Italian, earmarked as the replacement for Xabi Alonso in a season that opened amid high expectation at Anfield, will be absent for the rest of this campaign should he undergo exploratory surgery.

But Benitez said: “We don’t know if he needs an operation. He has some pain and we will just analyse that with the doctor. It’s the same ankle he did before.

“Some players maybe can manage with the pain, some players cannot. When you talk of pain you never know, it depends on each individual and that makes it really difficult.”

Another Liverpool midfielder aggravating Benitez is Albert Riera, whose proposed move to Spartak Moscow has stalled over his demands to be paid almost double what he earns at Anfield.

The Spanish winger effectively announced the end of his Liverpool career when he spoke against Benitez and the club last month, having become marginalised at the club.

Liverpool were “a sinking ship”, according to an interview Riera gave, only to be described by the player this week as “one of the best clubs in the world” following Spartak’s refusal to offer over €68,000 a week in wages. The U-turn represents a further headache for Benitez, who sent Riera home from training three times for poor behaviour before his outburst.

Benitez was told a deal to take Riera to Russia was in place before the player went public with his criticism and, though a permanent transfer to CSKA failed to materialise and the Spartak loan has stalled, he still hopes an exit can be arranged before their transfer window closes next week.

“We still have some time until the end of the Russian transfer window so we will see what happens,” he said. “I didn’t see his latest comments but for me, when he was talking this way on the day before a massive game (against Lille) was disappointing.

“It was especially so when he was saying things that weren’t true. He also said he wants to play, that’s why he had to go, but our fans are not stupid and they will know what’s going on.”