Former Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has been fired from his coaching position at Sassuolo in Serie A after a dismal run that saw him brutally slam his own players

Former Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has been fired by Sassuolo just a few months after taking his first job in Serie A. It comes after a run of five consecutive defeats.

This past weekend, Aquilani's side lost 3-0 to AS Roma, after which the Italian admitted his future was in doubt. The defeat leaves Sassuolo hovering over the relegation zone.

"I have to be judged on results and I have to question myself," the ex-Reds man said. This was his first role as a head coach in the top flight, having previously impressed with Pisa and Catanzaro in the Italian second division. After replacing Fabio Grosso, he will now be succeeded by Roberto D'Aversa, who will be in charge for the remainder of the season.

"It was as if a light went off," Aquilani told Sky Sport Italia when asked about the performance against Roma.

"I didn’t expect to see so little from my team. We have no courage on the ball and it becomes impossible this way. After we went 1-0 down, the game just stopped.

"I expect more in so many ways, but I cannot hide. I am the one responsible. We talk about mental fragility, but it’s hard to lift the players after five defeats in a row. This is football and we need to face reality.

"I haven’t spoken to them yet. I always felt their faith, but obviously I have to be judged on results, and I have to question myself. Many things have to change."

Aquilani recorded a memorable 3-2 win over Juventus with Sassuolo, but then went two months without a victory, losing six in seven. His overall record, though, was four wins, two draws and seven defeats in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

During his time at Liverpool, Aquilani made 28 appearances during an injury-hit spell under Rafa Benitez in 2009/10. He had been signed as a replacement for Xabi Alonso.

He quickly returned to Italy and later admitted that he didn't really want to depart in the first place.

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"For me, it was very difficult to leave Roma," Aquilani later admitted when speaking about his time at Liverpool. "I had had a lot of chances to move from Roma, I remember, when I was younger.

"Arsenal and Chelsea gave me big offers, but there was never any chance I’d leave Roma. What happened was I was injured; I had a big injury. With this injury, I couldn't improve the situation. I needed surgery and was out for four or five months.

"When my agent told me Liverpool wanted me, for me it was like the years before with Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus when Roma never sold me.

"But when my agent told me that Roma wanted to sell me, for me it was different. For me, it was impossible to think of changing from Roma to another club, to another country."