Rafa turns the screw on Jose as battle of Anfield looms large

No sooner had a capacity crowd drawn breath following a Steven Gerrard free-kick that truly warranted the tag "unstoppable", than the Reds boss was cranking up the pressure on his Portuguese rival.

Chelsea, who will still be without several front- line players next week through injury, arrive at Anfield for an early showdown that could have massive implications.

Make no mistake, had Gerrard not dipped into his repertoire to fire off a stunning winner three minutes from time, Liverpool were again looking at making up ground.

A draw here, however illdeserved against a hugely disappointing Villa, would have left Benitez facing the possibility of chasing points after next weekend's fixture should the Blues emerge triumphant from their trip to Merseyside.

For a man who has spent around £ 50 million this summer, not to mention the £30- odd million that left the Anfield coffers 12 months ago, it would have raised questions about his ability to fashion a domestic challenge, for all his success in Europe.

Yet Gerrard's goal not only presented Benitez with a 'Get-out-of-jail' card, it also gave opportunity to play down his title chances. Of course, there was the customary barb at Mourinho.

To the question: "Is your squad as powerful as Manchester United and Chelsea?' Benitez replied: 'No. They are the two favourites. They finished 21 points ahead and they have spent more money. Chelsea have spent more money than anyone in the last five years.

"We needed to improve our squad so we have spent more money than before. We will try to be closer. We know we will be under pressure but they will be under pressure because they now have a better team than they had before.

"I will see the difference when we play them. Can we get closer? We will try not to make too many mistakes and see if that happens.

"We showed we could play today but you really need to see the team after two or three months. For me, one game winning or losing doesn't make much difference, although losing would mean more people talking."

Of the players questioned in the post-match media scrum, every single one talked about the importance of next Sunday's clash and did so without prompting.

Indeed, John Arne Riise let slip that the club captain went to great lengths to explain how important victory at Villa Park could be.

"It makes it an even bigger game against Chelsea," he said. "We know we needed a good start - although we left it late - and Steven told us all how important he felt it was afterwards. His goal could be vital. It was unbelievable. It was brilliant. I thought it was going over and then it dipped. He showed us why he is the best player in the world."

With Martin Laursen's own-goal separating the sides, the game looked for all the world as if it was to drift towards a victory for the visitors before Jamie Carragher's handball allowed Gareth Barry's penalty to send a wave of euphoria through the capacity crowd.

However, Liverpool had at times toyed with Villa. Martin O'Neill's team were decidedly second-best in midfield, where his quartet looked like they had only just met. His decision to play Ashley Young just behind the front two backfired. It unbalanced the hosts and handed the visitors the initiative.

But it was worth the admission fee to watch Gerrard. A supreme athlete, almost everything he does has a purpose. He is at the very top of his game. And when peers such as Riise and Dirk Kuyt talk about him being the "best player in the world" and the 'best player in our squad' respectively, it makes you wonder why it has taken this long for him to play in his preferred spot.

As for his free-kick - it was footballing heaven. No keeper on the planet could have stopped it.

Villa, for all the pre-season promise, do not look to have improved massively on last season. After announcing last week following the friendly against Inter Milan that they looked capable of scoring goals, the club's Irish boss gambled and lost after tinkering with his formation.

But he retains faith in the players brought in while confirming his own pre-match prediction that Liverpool will be much more of a threat this season, even if Benitez himself does not want to admit it.

"At times Liverpool were terrific," said O'Neill. "Absolutely. They break very, very quickly. There is just absolutely no question they are a good side.

"They have strengthened their side and good luck to them. They have picked up the boy Torres, who is a handful and they are really outstanding. But Gerrard remains the heartbeat of that team. A great, great player. He even looks as if he is improving."

ASTON VILLA (4-3-1-2): Taylor 8, Gardner 6, Mellberg 6, Laursen 6, (Cahill 46, 5) Bouma 5, (Moore 72, 5) Petrov 4, Barry 7, Reo-Coker 5; Young 5; Carew 4, Agbonlahor 5. Booked: Mellberg, Bouma, Petrov, Barry

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina 6, Finnan 6, Carragher 8, Agger 6, Arbeloa 5; Pennant 5, (Babel 74, 6) Alonso 6, Gerrard 9, Riise 7; Kuyt 7, (Sissoko 90) Torres 6. (Voronin 79).

Booked: Reina, Pennant

Man of the match: Steven Gerrard.

Referee: Mike Riley.