Never an easy fixture, but there sure could be better times to head up to Anfield. Avoiding a repeat of the last scoreline up there might well seem like a result in itself, but it would take that very scoreline to send Villa to the foot of the Premiership.

But who wants to get swallowed up in such a defeatist attitude? Our run of poor form will come to an end and Burnley have admirably demonstrated that every team is beatable on their day. So why not tonight in Liverpool?

Villa haven’t won a Premiership game at Anfield since 2001 and the bookies reckon it’s an 8-1 shot this time. Even Steve Sidwell has admitted that Villa’s form is that of a relegation contender. But despite the doom and gloom right now, everyone at the club are making the right noises about turning this around. Confidence is the key.

It’s MON’s responsibility to restore that confidence and that’s exactly what he’s paid to do. Hopefully he’ll give the team a boost by sending them out in a formation equipped to deal with Liverpool somewhat better than the consistently ineffectual 4-4-2.

With Reo-Coker and Sidwell brought back in and Petrov rested in Vienna last Thursday, the good news is that MON could well accommodate all three for this fixture if he wishes, and I certainly hope he wishes. I would really like to see Petrov and Reo-Coker given twin holding roles in front of our fragile back four, with Sidwell pushing on.

Obviously we’d be looking at Ash and Milner as wing forwards and presumably the undroppable Heskey up front. To be honest, if Carew still isn’t available, Gabby doesn’t look fit and Delfouneso doesn’t have the experience, there’s no alternative to Heskey.

At the back, Curtis Davies – who has recently expressed his surprise that old team mate Zat Knight was allowed to leave before a replacement came in – is a doubt after aggravating his shoulder injury in Austria. Lowry came in during the Rapid game, but I would imagine that was because he was the only option on the bench who could play there. Ciaran Clark, who was so impressive during the Peace Cup, would surely be the preferred option to start in Davies’ place if necessary.

We can probably expect Shorey, Cuellar & Bebe because, well, there’s little alternative. It really is threadbare at the back and I can understand why a lot of fans are pulling their hair out. There’s barely a week left to address that – it’s going to be a very busy week!!

Liverpool may well have recovered some composure by stroking four past Stoke City midweek, but the opening day loss at White Hart Lane wasn’t in the script. They’ll be looking to reassure concerned observers that Liverpool are not on the brink of some spectacular self-destruction.

Liverpool are actually a little thin at the back themselves and Rafa has just brought in Greek international Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who’s a very big fella indeed. He could well be thrown in at the deep end and paired with Carragher which could well be our best hope of exploiting a weakness at the back. I should probably stress the word ‘hope’ there.

Torres is expected to be available despite taking a few stitches to an injury around the eyebrow against Stoke. I’m looking forward to seeing our own Spaniard, Carlos Cuellar, handle his compatriot.

Who knows, if Torres can be kept under control by Cuellar and Petrov/Reo-Coker harness Gerrard, we might just nick something from this game. But, who among the Villa faithful wouldn’t be very, very happy with a point from this game??