Martin O’Neill, the Aston Villa manager, did not wish to comment on Liverpool’s political unrest, but, in his unstinting praise for his own American chairman, his silence said it all. The implications between his utterances were as eloquent as any support Rafael Benítez could have wished for.

While Randy Lerner has stood back and let O’Neill get on with his job in his own time and in his own style, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr appear intent on taking Liverpool to the brink of crisis.

Whether or not the American owners sell out within a year of taking over at Anfield, O’Neill believes that his Liverpool counterpart is doing a good job. “I wouldn’t mind getting criticised for only winning the Champions League,” the Villa manager said, adding that he believes that Fernando Torres is, at £20 million, “fantastic value” and has improved since he came under Benítez’s wing.

While the teams meet at Anfield this evening, level on points in their contrasting pursuits of European qualification, O’Neill believes that Villa are some way behind in their bid to compete for a top-four place on a regular basis. With a following wind, he aspires to be challenging on a similar level within two years.

While Villa cost Lerner a “mere” £64 million 18 months ago — compared with the £220 million that Hicks and Gillett paid for Liverpool — O’Neill’s team appear to be gaining ground.

“I hope my relationship with him [Lerner] is pretty professional,” O’Neill said. “I don’t think his ambitions have changed in any way. He has the club at heart. I have got to know him better now because he comes over for the games and he is as enthusiastic now as he was when he took over. He has big plans for the club. I am the very first one to realise I am in a position where, if I do well,

I am the first one to realise those ambitions. If you don’t do well, you know the consequences.

“I don’t think he has any intention of selling the club to try and make a profit. I think what he has bought will improve.” Villa, unbeaten last season until they lost 3-1 at Anfield in late October, have not won there since 2001. Gareth Barry, the captain, hopes to recover from a hip injury, while Olof Mellberg returns after a virus and Stuart Taylor is in goal, with Scott Carson is ineligible because he is on loan from Liverpool.

Liverpool (possible; 4-4-2): J M Reina – Á Arbeloa, J Carragher, S Hyypia, J A Riise – J Pennant, S Gerrard, J Mascherano, H Kewell – D Kuyt, F Torres.

Aston Villa (probable; 4-4-2): S Taylor – O Mellberg, C Davies, M Laursen, W Bouma – S Petrov, N Reo-Coker, G Barry, A Young – G Agbonlahor, J Carew. Referee: M Clattenburg. Television: Live on Setanta Sports 1 from 7pm (kick-off 8pm).