LIVERPOOL flop Alberto Aquilani has been sacked by Sassuolo after just five months as the Serie A outfit’s manager.

Aquilani, 42, joined the Reds in 2009 following a successful seven-year stint at Roma where he amassed a total of 15 goals and eight assists in 149 appearances.

The former midfielder was brought to Anfield by then manager Rafa Benitez as the replacement for the legendary Xabi Alonso, who left for Real Madrid.

But the ex-Italy international, who joined the Merseysiders after undergoing ankle surgery, couldn’t replicate his Campionato success in the Premier League.

Aquilani only managed one season with Liverpool where he amassed a mere total of 28 appearances.

The Italian failed to fill in Alonso‘s giant shoes and was shipped out on loan to Juventus and AC Milan until his departure for Fiorentina in 2012.

Aquilani hung up his boots in 2018 and crossed over to management in 2023 which led him to Sassuolo, where he played on loan from Pescara in 2017, in June.

However, the Italian tactician only managed a mere four wins and a whopping seven losses in of all of the 13 matches in charge of the team.

That saw Sassuolo drop all the way down to 17th place in the table with only one point separating them from the relegation zone.

And thus the club decided to part ways with Aquilani before releasing a brief 46-word statement.

Sassuolo’s announcement read: “Sassuolo announce they have relieved coach Alberto Aquilani and his staff from their respective positions.

“The Company thanks the technician and his collaborators for the commitment and seriousness shown at the helm of the black and greens and wishes them the best of luck for the future.”

Aquilani also had brief spells in charge of Pisa and Catanzaro after switching to management three years ago.

Alonso, on the other hand, enjoyed a glittering three-year stint at Bayer Leverkusen and now manages Chelsea after a short spell in charge of Real.