ASTON VILLA are a typical Martin O’Neill team with a good work ethic, but also fluent on the ball.

They are strong at the back but can swiftly turn defence into attack with plenty of pacey outlets.

You won’t find them simply knocking the ball to John Carew and expecting him to battle for it, but trying to move it through midfield.

Defence

OLOF MELLBERG has been Villa’s most consistent performer sine arriving from Racing Santander and his no-nonsense, strong in the tackle approach has marked him out as one of the Premier League’s best full-backs.

Any player with AC Milan on their CV can play and Martin Laursen is no exception. After signing for £3million in 2004, his first couple of seasons were beset by injuries.

But since then he has shown himself to be cool, calm and composed but also with an aggressive edge to his tackling as well as scoring vital goals. Curtis Davies is a player who quickly established himself in the West Brom defence and was made captain at 21.

He likes to bring the ball out of defence and seems to be fully focussed on his game these days after perhaps reading too many of his own headlines in the past. Zak Knight has found himself on the sidelines. While he is strong and good in the air, he perhaps lacks the mobility required by a really top drawer defender. Wilfred Bouma is an experienced Dutch international, signed from PSV Eindhoven where he won four titles and two cups. In the same mould as Stuart Pearce in that he is quick and aggressive in the tackle. Has become something of a cult hero with his never-say-die attitude. The Villa back-line are all strong in the air so Liverpool’s delivery to the front players will have to be pinpoint to get by them, while the movement of players like Fernando Torres will be important to unsettle them.

Midfield

VILLA will be hoping Gareth Barry is fit to play as he is such a key figure for them.

Can play in a number of positions, but is most effective down the left. He will attack and get his crosses in while also carrying out his defensive duties. A neat passer of the ball, he has a good range of passes with both short and long delivery.

Nigel Reo-Coker provides the energy in the middle of the park and will run all match long from box to box while bringing a competitive edge the midfield battle. Stiliyan Petrov is a player who thrived under O’Neill at Celtic and while he has not shown the consistency since his move south he poses a threat. He likes to get forward and support the front two and will try and supply a decisive pass in the final third. Capable of a match-winning performance.

Attack

GABRIEL AGBONLAHOR loves to take on defenders and has the pace to get past most.

He will also put the opposition defenders under pressure when they have got the ball. On the other side Ashley Young is another player at his best running at defenders with the ball under his control. Carew has played his football in six countries and while his height is an obvious threat, he has more pace than you might expect. He will take the knocks and allow team-mates to play off him.

Dangerman

GABRIEL AGBONLAHOR – his full England debut cannot be far away, he will create chances for others and score his own.

Overall verdict

LIVERPOOL will have to raise their game a notch or two if Aston Villa are to be prevented from leaving Anfield with a point or three.

Ronny Goodlass was talking to RICHARD WILLIAMSON