Riera's fate is already sealed after he branded
Liverpool a sinking ship and questioned the manager's methods.
But Benitez's dig at £20million Aquilani hints all is
not well with the man asked - and so far failing - to fill Xabi
Alonso's boots.
The Italy international is adamant he has injured the
same right ankle which kept him out for the first few months of his
Anfield career, as he recovered from surgery at Roma. But Benitez
implied much of the problem could be psychological.
The Reds chief said: "He was complaining of pain in his
ankle and said he couldn't train. "We'll have to talk with the
doctors to see what's going on because at the moment we don't know.
"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, but some
- when they have pain - cannot. "When you talk of pain you never
know, it depends on each individual and that makes it really
difficult."
Aquilani, 25, has made only eight starts and missed the
Europa League trip to Benfica because of his ankle.
There are even fears he may sit out the rest of the
season. He has already had to deny tales he could leave for
Juventus, although the inference from Benitez was clearly one of
suspicion over the severity of his latest problem.
Yet there could be no hiding Rafa's feelings on
Riera.
Riera tried to broker a fragile and
transparent peace on Thursday after Spartak Moscow refused to
meet his demands for double his current wages
The Spanish winger, 27, had become such a
disruptive influence that Benitez had to send him away from
training three times even BEFORE his radio outburst ahead of the
recent Euro clash with Lille.
Benitez insists he gave at least four reasons to Riera
why he was not in the side. Riera tried to broker a fragile -
and transparent - peace on Thursday, insisting he wanted to
stay.
Yet that only came after Spartak Moscow, who were set
to sign him on loan, refused to meet his demands for double his
current wages.
Benitez, whose side visit Birmingham tomorrow,
revealed: "We still have some time until the end of the Russian
transfer window so we'll see what happens.
"I didn't see his latest comments but for me, on the
day before a massive game when he was talking this way it 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."