The Italian made his full Premier League debut on Boxing Day but faded badly in the second half before his 85th-minute substitution.

However, with Javier Mascherano again absent, Aquilani could be pressed into service once again.

Villa are smarting after a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday, and Benitez admits Liverpool could benefit slightly from having an extra 24 hours to prepare for tonight’s fixture.

“It will be more difficult for them playing Sunday, but we have been in this situation a lot of times,” he said.

“It is strange to do this with fixtures. I don’t know who is doing this but every year we have the same situation.”

Benitez has not always seen eye-to-eye with Villa manager Martin O’Neill – most infamously concerning the Gareth Barry transfer saga 18 months ago – but has praised the efforts of his Northern Irish counterpart this season.

“He has done a good job,” said the Liverpool manager. “They have spent some money and they have good players and are in a position with confidence.

“They are working hard to be in the top four. There already and they will be more confident.”

Liverpool are currently five points adrift of the top four but Benitez has refused to back down on his pronouncement that he can “guarantee” his team will finish in the Champions League qualification places.

“What do you expect from me?” he said. “I have to say that. We have confidence and we have to do it because we are a top side.

“We have been top four for the last few years and it has to be our target now.

“I said that because I believe it but we have to start winning games in a row.

“It was very clear we had to win against Wolves and then do something against Villa. If we had lost on Saturday and then won the next game, it wouldn’t have changed anything for us.”