Villa defender Luke Young admits Liverpool’s Fernando Torres is so good Villa’s defence will need ‘at least a 10-yard headstart.’

The Spain striker has been in irresistible form in his last two games, helping inspire the Reds to respective 4-0 and 4-1 victories over Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Beleaguered United defender Nemanja Vidic, one of the hot tips for the PFA Player of the Year Award, suffered a torrid afternoon against Torres before eventually being sent off.

Young admits facing the the ex-Atletico Madrid forward is an unenviable task when he is in this sort of form.

He said: “How do you look after Torres? I am not too sure. I think you’ve got to give yourself at least 10 yards’ headstart. He is a good player. I think Liverpool have missed him at times this year.

“When he plays like you saw last weekend (against United) he is a real handful. Vidic has been one of the best players in the Premier League this year and Torres gave him the runaround.

“Even when they didn’t have him, they were top of the league but any team that has got Torres in it is a better one.

“I think they need to keep him and Steven Gerrard on the pitch together. That is the key for them.”

Villa head to Anfield, where Liverpool are defending the Premier League’s only remaining unbeaten home record, desperate to end a seven-game winless streak.

Young insists they have to grind out a result if they are to get their Champions League challenge back on track.

He said: “We need an ugly result that gets us three points and gets the confidence flowing again.

“We are not playing as well as we have done and the results are showing that. We’ve got to go back to the training ground and regroup a bit.

“We need to put up some big performances and come away with some points to keep us in the hunt for fourth place.”

While Villa’s form has been on a downward spiral, the Reds are playing their best football of the campaign but Young insists they have ‘nothing to lose.’

He said: “The last two games they have been in great form. We will be looking forward to it. With nine games to go, we have got nothing to lose now.

“I don’t think anyone really fancies us to get fourth in the current situation we are in so it would be nice to prove a few people wrong.”

O’Neill is weighing up whether to revert to the 4-5-1 formation, which brought Villa so much success during the winter, especially on their travels.

The Villa boss must also decide whether to take goal-shy striker Gabby Agbonlahor out of the firing line, after his substitution late on against Tottenham last week prompted ironic cheers from the claret and blue support.

John Carew is pushing for a start after netting a late consolation in the 2-1 defeat, while Curtis Davies will hope for a recall, but the game will again come too soon for Steve Sidwell and Freddie Bouma.