Villa boss Martin O’Neill rounded on his critics after his team came roaring out of their slump by flooring Liverpool at Anfield.

The 3-1 victory ended a 31-match unbeaten run in the Reds’ home fortress last night and dramatically reversed a Villa decline stretching back to mid-February.

O’Neill’s men had won only two of an 18-game sequence since, then watched their European and domestic hopes slide before losing key figures Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen in the summer.

When another summer of muted transfer business was followed by an opening-day defeat by Wigan, O’Neill came under fire for the first time in his three years at the club while his players were booed from the pitch.

The Anfield effort was easily Villa’s best result since victory over Arsenal at the Emirates last November, giving O’Neill the chance to round on those who have questioned his progress.

He said: “I’m staggered, really, by what is going on. For us to get the abuse we got at half-time against Wigan, which I just don’t think was warranted 45 minutes into a game.

“It’s interesting – we won a pre-season tournament in Spain against some very big teams but OK, I accept doesn’t mean a lot to some people.

“But this is a very daunting league in which teams have spent an awful lot of money, making it even more difficult for everyone.

“To be booed off at the end against Wigan I can accept – people pay their money, they can go for it if they want.

“But we have a group of young players who are still learning this game but who are quality. ”

There’s no respite for Villa with Thursday’s Europa home clash against Rapid Vienna, when they attempt to overhaul a 1-0 deficit, already in sight.

Villa are in talks with Blackburn to recruit defender Steven Warnock,  but fear Everton may snaffle Portsmouth’s now want-away centre-half Sylvain Distin.