Villa manager Martin O’Neill has moved to soften the discontent growing at the club with a plea for a “proper assessment” of his side after a dozen games.

The claret and blues travel to Anfield tonight for the delayed second Premier League clash of the season, having lost both competitive matches so far without scoring a goal.

But it is the lack of signings which is provoking most anxiety within the camp – and bringing the first concerted criticism of a manager who has previously enjoyed the fans’ full backing.

Supporters want to know why new signings have taken so long, fearing the initiative gained last season has been surrendered.

But O’Neill is calling for some calm thinking.

He said: “It will even itself up. After 10 or 12 games, we will be in a position to make a proper assessment.

“Of course, we need to improve and keep on improving. As the whole squad gets fully wound up and fully fit then we will be OK. It’s a tough time at the start of the season.

“We had the Peace Cup, we had some players coming back later than others. I think other teams are feeling the same way. This is not putting an excuse on it, we’ve got to try and be ready for it.

“The games are hard and they are approaching us pretty quickly as well which is good. But when we settle down in the season we’ll be absolutely fine.”

O’Neill knows that a plea for rational thinking in the hyped-up age of today’s Premier League is going to struggle for an audience.

Instead, supporters have watched Villa fall away alarmingly since threatening to bring Champions League football to the region for the first time.

Now the finger is being pointed at a manager whose transfer market activity has been ponderous.

But the Villa boss is urging supporters not to get carried away by the first roll of results and believes there are plenty of previous examples which should be remembered.

He said: “I went to the Liverpool – Tottenham game because we are playing Liverpool. Tottenham deserved to win the game. Liverpool lost just twice last year in the league and now they’ve been beaten in the first game.

“These things can happen. It was a really hot day. Liverpool will accept the fact they’ll play better. Obviously their home record last season was phenomenal.

“I’m not surprised by things that happen on the opening day. I was down early for Tottenham gam,e so I was able to see the second half of the Man Utd and Birmingham game.

“From what I saw Birmingham had a chance or two to get something at Old Trafford. I’m never surprised, because I’ve seen it so often before.

“People will draw all sorts of conclusions from these games. But Everton had a stodgy start last season they even got knocked out of Europe by Standard Liege. But they came through it.

“Everything was doom and gloom and then suddenly they end up getting to a cup final and finishing fifth. Everything was brilliant for them.

“Their season stemmed from beating Liverpool and ourselves in quick succession in the FA Cup.”

And Reds boss Rafa Benitez is expecting a tough game – despite Villa’s poor start.

He said: “Villa will be difficult for us. They have pace, experience and ability. They do very well in away games because of that and are an extremely dangerous side.”