Aquilani hailed as the 'missing link'

Kuala Lumpur: Liverpool owner John W. Henry spelt Alberto Aquilani's name wrong in a hastily posted tweet on Saturday, such was his enthusiasm to talk about the midfielder.

"One missing link last year — Acquilani," the club's principal owner posted, before offering gushing words for striker David Ngog, scorer of a double as Liverpool brushed a Malaysian XI aside 6-3 in Kuala Lumpur.

Having underwhelmed in the two years he has been at Liverpool, it was anticipated Aquilani would be sold back to a club in Italy.

Unlikely lifeline

Suddenly, though, he has been tossed the most unlikely lifeline. He was a key figure when he came on at half-time and was instrumental in five second-half goals.

Certainly the Italian, who was on loan at Juventus when Henry and company took charge at Anfield, has looked good during Liverpool's pre-season tour of south east Asia. He received huge ovations every time he touched the ball in Kuala Lumpur.

His attitude has been good and he has been on record in the last few days to say he wants to stay. Now he has to prove he has the appetite for a fight and the mental toughness required in the Barclays Premier League — irrespective of the support he received from the most unexpected source.

The tour could also prove a turning point in Joe Cole's future and he was another bright spot in the game against the Malaysian XI.

A year has passed since Cole breezed into Liverpool's Swiss training camp from Chelsea under the banner of "best free signing of the summer", but events in the subsequent 12 months have left many wondering whether he will ever recapture the sparkle of old.

But assistant boss Steve Clarke, who worked with Cole at Chelsea during the most successful spell of the midfielder's career, said: "He has worked hard and come back lively in training. He's looked good in both matches we've played so far. He's got a big contribution to make."