Aston Villa v Liverpool: Villans face leaders with a spring in their step

Tomorrow’s visit of unbeaten Premier League leaders Liverpool – just after the clubs were also drawn together in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals – comes just seven days after Dean Smith’s men suffered their heaviest defeat of the campaign to date at the hands of champions Manchester City.

Following that up with a disappointing result in the Carabao Cup would have further soured the mood but a victory, albeit against a weakened Wolves, maintained the optimism which has typified Villa’s first few months back in the top flight.

“It wouldn’t have been nice going into the Liverpool game having lost two games on the spin and it was important we didn’t do that,” said Smith. “We got a good win which will take us into the game nicely.

“The cup game gave me an opportunity to get some players out there and to rest others. We got a deserved win on the night.

“The turnaround is tight but we were used to that in the Championship last year.

“We had our toughest test of the season at Manchester City last weekend and Liverpool is going to be another really tough test. It will be right up there again.

“I have so much admiration for Jurgen Klopp and what he has done at Liverpool and Dortmund too. It will be a right test with the players they have got.”

Home league wins over Liverpool have been rare for Villa over the last two decades. Since beating the Reds in February 1998 –John Gregory’s first game in charge – they have won just one of their last 18 Premier League encounters in B6.

At no stage on that run have they had to face a visiting team as talented as the one they will tomorrow, with last season’s Champions League winners having dropped just two points all term.

For many it would appear a daunting prospect, yet for Smith it is exactly the type he relishes. The Villa boss will hope to have skipper Jack Grealish back after he missed Wednesday’s win with a calf injury.

Henri Lansbury is a candidate to replace Grealish, should he not recover in time. The midfielder, who has endured a largely injury-ravaged Villa career since joining from Nottingham Forest nearly three years ago, made the most of just his second start of the season by setting up two goals against Wolves. Lansbury first found Anwar El Ghazi with a perfect through ball for the opener, before firing in the free-kick from which Ahmed Elmohamady flicked home the winner.

Smith has made no secret of his admiration for the 29-year-old in the past and was again full of praise in the aftermath of Wednesday night.

“Henri is a super player and a super lad as well,” said Smith. “I really like him. The challenge has been keeping him fit. He had a few niggling injuries last season when I was here. Since pre-season he has been knocking on the door. He has already had a taste of Premier League action and unfortunately had a goal ruled out against Palace. He showed what he is about against Wolves.

“The beauty of the squad at the moment is the depth and we have a player in each position fighting to get into the team.”

Smith faces other selection issues on the wing and in midfield.

El Ghazi is likely to get the nod over Trezeguet on the flank after notching his third goal of the campaign in midweek, particularly with the latter having struggled to make the most of starts against both City and Wolves.

Deciding between Douglas Luiz and Conor Hourihane in the middle of the park would appear a trickier decision.

The former was one of Villa’s better players at City but did tarnish a strong performance against Wolves with an error which led to the visitors’ goal. Hourihane, however, has been among Villa’s most dependable performers all year.