Difficult at Villa Park it may be, but Liverpool have enjoyed their trips to that particular part of Birmingham in recent years.
The Anfield outfit are unbeaten in their last 11 league visits to Villa – winning six and drawing five – since a 2-1 defeat in February 1998. Indeed, Villa only scored in four of those fixtures, and are aiming to complete their first league double over Liverpool in the Premier League era.
An away win this evening would move Benitez’s side within two points of the Midlanders, although the win over Wolves was only their fifth win in 18 games in all competitions.
Liverpool have lost four of their last six away league games, winning just once and scoring in only two of those games.
Alberto Aquilani made his long-awaited full Premier League debut on Saturday and, with Javier Mascherano still sidelined, could make his second start in four days tonight.
The Italian’s only other start for Liverpool since his summer move for Roma was in the Champions League against Fiorentina earlier this month.
And the midfielder, who is regaining full fitness after an ankle operation, admits he was taken by surprise by the pace of the English game.
“I am happy because I had been out so long,” says Aquilani. “It’s important to play, so I can get back to my best condition. I have a good relationship with Rafa Benitez and even my team-mates, champions like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, who welcomed me and helped me merge into this group.
“I really enjoyed the game as it was important for me; I want to improve my fitness.
“It was so different to anything I have experienced, as it was so quick and you never really had much time. The football we played was so fast.
“The most important thing, however, was that we won. We need to improve our confidence and we need to keep winning games to move up the table.
“The team does not deserve it’s current low standing. We’ve had difficulties, but we will come out of this.
“It is crucial to take things step by step but our aim is now to win three, four and five games in a row. If we can do that, we will see where that takes us.
Now we have to face Aston Villa and it is a very important game for our season but we are feeling good and it is important that we try to win.”
With the World Cup looming ever closer at the end of the season, Aquilani believes a good second half of the campaign can bolster both Liverpool’s chances and his own of making the Italy squad for South Africa.
“I never stopped thinking about the World Cup,” he says. “I did so even when under the knife. I have an excellent relationship with the Italian coach (Marcello Lippi), but I know I’ve lost a lot of time. I’ll try to regain my place, because it would be really important for me.”
