DIRK KUYT is ready to return for Liverpool tonight – as Rafael Benitez urged his players to begin their traditional second-half surge to a season.

Benitez’s side travel to Aston Villa aiming to secure back-to-back Barclays Premier League triumphs for the first time since September.

Victory would move the Anfield outfit to within two points of the fifth-placed Midlanders and provide a much-needed boost to their Champions League qualification hopes.

And Benitez admits his players must start putting a run of wins together if they are to launch a concerted challenge to climb back into the top four.

“I don’t think we have a mental block over winning two games in a row,” said Benitez. “Sometimes you are not just playing well and sometimes you can be unlucky.

“We know Aston Villa are in a very good position. They have belief and confidence, but we must try to win and reduce the gap. If we can’t, we still know we have to keep going because it is a long race.

“We have been good in second half in past seasons and we will have to be confident.”

Kuyt was on the bench for the first time in the league this season for the 2-0 Boxing Day win over Wolverhampton Wanderers with Benitez having declared the Dutchman required a break.

But the 29-year-old will step back into the starting line-up this evening, although Benitez faces a decision over whether to hand Alberto Aquilani his second start in four days.