Villa head for Anfield with manager Martin O’Neill fighting to quell the rising panic that the club has been left behind in the summer transfer market.

Beaten in their first domestic and European games, claret and blue fans will fear a third defeat in a row being inflicted upon a squad so obviously weakened by the exits of top duo Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen.

Now midfielder Steve Sidwell has cranked up the pressure by admitting the club cannot be complacent about sliding into relegation trouble.

O’Neill is asking for 12 games before any rational judgement is made and he still eight days to find new signings.

Portsmouth’s Sylvain Distin is still top of his defensive target list, with Matthew Upson and James Collins at West Ham next if the Distin move fails.

There has been renewed speculation over the weekend that Blackburn’s Stephen Warnock could be on his way to Villa, after Sam Allardyce withdrew him from his team against Sunderland on Saturday.

Villa urgently need new blood, a fact underlined by Sidwell who has spoken of the threat of getting dragged into a relegation fight this season.

He said: “To say this club is too big to get relegated would be disrespectful to the likes of Newcastle. You can never write it off – look at Spurs last year until Harry Redknapp came in.

“It can happen to any club.”

Villa’s numbers are again stretched at Liverpool, with John Carew still not a confirmed starter and Curtis Davies doubtful with a shoulder injury.

Davies’ absence could hand rookie 20-year-old centre-back Shane Lowry a chance to start for the first time in competitive action.