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."

The former Roma star insists that it is paramount for Liverpool to finish in the top four and claim a spot in the Champions League next season, as to miss out could have disastrous consequences.

Thus, the 25-year-old hopes that the Reds can turn the corner and start afresh when they lock horns with Arsenal on Sunday.

"That [Top four finish] is very important for us," he said.

"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."