MARTIN O’NEILL believes Liverpool are in the throes of recovery following their poor first half to the season and are capable of putting together a long unbeaten run to mount a credible challenge for the top four.

The Northern Irishman highlighted Arsenal’s resurgence last season, when Arsene Wenger’s side went 21 matches without defeat to overhaul Villa and qualify for the Champions League, and spoke of his belief that Liverpool could do the same over the next few months.

Liverpool are five points behind Villa following Saturday’s victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers and O’Neill senses “they are getting a bit of momentum again” ahead of tonight’s pivotal meeting between the two clubs.

“It was a big win for them at Anfield against Wolves at the weekend,” said the Villa manager, who expects a positive response from his side following Sunday’s chastening defeat at Arsenal. “We’ve got to be right ourselves, but they (Liverpool) are still in there.

“I heard Arsenal were supposed to be imploding last season, just about February time, when I think they were in the middle of a 21-game unbeaten run. They finished the season very, very strongly and Liverpool are capable of doing the same thing.

“They are capable because it’s Liverpool Football Club. Look at Arsenal now. Four weeks ago they were being written off for the title and now they are right bang in there. That’s what can happen with the top clubs.

“Liverpool have lost a few games more than they would have thought. Last season they were terrific. They went through the whole season and lost two games. After three games of this season, they had lost two games, but they are getting a bit of momentum again.”

O’Neill is aware Villa will come under the microscope in the wake of the defeat at Arsenal, with questions again being asked about their ability to stay the course and avoid a repeat of their collapse last season.

The Villa manager maintains, however, that losing against Arsenal is no disgrace and has urged his players to pick themselves up and respond with a victory over Liverpool that would see them regain fourth spot from Tottenham Hotspur.

“I’m not too bothered about who says what,” said O’Neill, who will be without the suspended Ashley Young. “I didn’t get too carried away when we went to Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago and won there. It was three points, it was a boost to confidence and it was terrific. But equally any side can go to Arsenal and get beaten, so I wouldn’t start to think the result was a major shock all over Europe. But what we have to do is fight back against Liverpool and try to win.”

Rafael Benitez has said that Liverpool’s confidence and Champions League credentials will be under scrutiny at Villa Park tonight.

The Spaniard is considering whether to give the midfielder Alberto Aquilani a second start in four days.

Liverpool have not won successive league matches since September and have several injury problems. Yossi Benayoun and Fabio Aurelio were withdrawn with slight injuries in the closing stages against Wolves, and there are doubts over whether Aquilani, who made his full league debut in that match, and Fernando Torres can start games in such quick succession.

“After the win over Wolves we will have more confidence and that will be very good for the whole team but we know we have to keep winning to get fourth place,” said Benitez.

“We must discover if we have the confidence now to win there and to get closer to the top of the table. But we know Villa are a very good team who are ahead of us, and one we must beat.

“To get back to where we want to be we must start winning games in a row. If we do that at Villa it will be easier for us to keep our confidence higher.”

Aquilani said he had been taken aback by the pace of the game against Wolves. “I really enjoyed the game as it was important for me; I want to improve my fitness,” said the Italian, who has been dogged by injury this season.

“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.”

Benitez denied his guarantee, earlier in the season, of a top-four finish had increased the pressure on his players, saying: “People keep asking me why I said recently that I would categorically guarantee that we will be in the top four – but what do you expect from me? I have to say that. We have confidence and we have to do it because we are a top side.”

The Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva agreed that the club must now build momentum. “We know that if we beat (Villa) we will be closer. Every game is like a cup final for us and we must keep working hard to try and win some matches in a row.”

PROBABLE TEAMS – ASTON VILLA: Friedel; L Young, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock; Milner, Sidwell, Petrov, Downing; Agbonlahor, Carew.

LIVERPOOL: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua; Lucas, Gerrard; Kuyt, Benayoun, Aurelio; Torres.