Villa new boy James Milner insists Villa’s draw with Liverpool is proof they can ‘live with the top four.’

The club record signing made his second debut in claret and blue colours in the goalless draw, coming on as a second-half substitute as Villa ended Rafael Benitez’s side’s 100 per cent start.

Martin O’Neill’s men had the better of the chances, but failed to break down a stubborn Reds side, in a match which failed to live up to the pre-match hype surrounding Gareth Barry’s on-off move to Anfield.

Milner, a £12m arrival from Newcastle, insists the result showed Villa can mix it with the big boys.

He said: “This proves we can live with the top four. If we can keep improving that will mean forcing our way into the top four.

“Liverpool were happy with 0-0 towards the end. That proves how much Villa have moved on over the last couple of years and hopefully we can keep progressing.”

The England U21 international believes the club have made massive strides under O’Neill, since his loan spell at Villa Park two years ago.

Milner said: “My first game was away at West Ham and we got a heavy defeat. This time I got a top four club at home and could have got better than 0-0.

“These are exciting times.”

The transfer window shuts at midnight and O’Neill refused to rule out further arrivals, with West Ham’s Dean Ashton and Reading’s Kevin Doyle among those linked.