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Steve Sidwell: Aston Villa don't fear Liverpool

24 Aug 2009


Steve Sidwell is refusing to press the panic button after Aston Villa's dismal form of the past few months, but he concedes no club is too big to avoid relegation.

Villa were chasing a Champions League spot after two thirds of last season, but won only two of their final 18 games and have started the new campaign in unconvincing style.

They suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Wigan in their opening Barclays Premier League fixture and then were beaten away to Rapid Vienna in the Europa League.

Sidwell knows Villa have the quality to bounce back ahead of tonight's clash with Liverpool at Anfield, but the former Reading and Chelsea player also knows it is easy for a "losing mentality" to set in.

He said: "We do seem to have started where we left off last year and it is down to us and the manager to get us back on track.

"We have had a poor run of form and you can easily find yourself at the bottom of the table but it is just two defeats so far this season.

"You can never write (relegation) off. I mean you look at Spurs last year. Who would have thought they, until Harry Redknapp came in and worked his magic, would have been on the verge of it? It can happen to any club.

"If that losing mentality sets in, and keeps going week-in week-out, you can go 10 or 12 games without picking up wins. Once you get that you are in trouble.

"To say this club is too big to get relegated would be disrespectful to the likes of Newcastle, but we shouldn't be looking at that.

"If you are halfway through the season and in this form it is difficult. But we are only two games in."

Sidwell admitted: "It is not a good time to be going to Liverpool but we are a young and hungry side and we have no fear.

"We are going there looking to win and looking to bounce back off two better defeats. What better place to get your season back on track.

"We have match-winning players here - players like Ashley Young, Gabby Agbonlahor and James Milner.

"We have set standards and need to get back to those standards. But we need to get back to them quickly if we are to be pushing for a European spot."

Villa central defender Curtis Davies is doubtful for the trip to Anfield after a recurrence of his shoulder problem.

Davies suffered the setback during the latter stages of the Vienna clash and his replacement, rookie Shane Lowry, is amongst the candidates to replace him although Habib Beye could switch from right-back.

Martin O'Neill, who is continuing his pursuit of Sylvain Distin and Stephen Warnock to bolster his back four, will also be hoping striker John Carew is fit to make his first appearance of the season.

Carew, the club's top scorer for the past two seasons, missed the Wigan reverse with a foot injury and then pulled out of the Vienna game with a virus.

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