Davis alert to Gerrard danger

Liverpool midfielder Gerrard has been below-par this season, playing wide right instead of his favoured central position.

But Gerrard scored twice in a 3-1 win the last time the teams met at Anfield and also netted a late penalty in Liverpool's 2-0 success at Villa Park last season.

Davis, who is struggling for form himself, insists Gerrard remains world class.

"Gerrard can be a difference because he's a world class player and he showed last season why he is," said Davis.

"He can produce pieces of magic like that and he did it twice against us last season."

Villa haven't won at Anfield for five years, but Davis believes the side are a different proposition under Martin O'Neill.

"Results haven't gone right for us up there for a long time, so hopefully that's something we can put right," he said.

"The way we're performing at the minute, we're looking to continue it, but we know it's going to be hard because it's such a tough place to go.

"At the moment, we're unbeaten and in good form, but it is going to be a very tough game because they've got a squad full of quality players.

"Being better defensively is something the gaffer's trying to do to make us more solid and not concede so many from setpieces.

"That and defending from the front is something we've been concentrating on.

"If we can hold out as long as possible, there's no reason why we can't nick a goal."

Davis added: "They would have hoped to have started a lot better, but they're always hard to beat and Anfield's always a difficult place to go - it's their away form that's suffered more than anything."