Benitez: big four will find it harder

LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez does not expect the Barclays Premier League’s big four to have things all their own way this season.

Benitez, who could give a debut to new Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos against Aston Villa tonight at Anfield, anticipates plenty of teams taking points off the Reds, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

He said: “This will be a different sort of title race. Already we have lost, and so have Manchester United.

“There are other teams who can make an impact – Spurs, Manchester City, Villa – and I believe it will be a lot harder this season for the top four teams to win every game.

“Villa will be difficult for us. They have pace, experience and ability. They do very well in away games because of that and are an extremely dangerous side.”

Liverpool suffered defeat at Tottenham on the opening weekend, but bounced back with a resounding 4-0 victory over Stoke on Wednesday.

And Reds skipper Steven Gerrard said: “The opening games have shown this season it will be very difficult to win. We are going to have to be even better than last season.

“Every season it gets tougher to win the title, but that is still our ambition.

“A setback on the opening day was not fatal. But it has been a long time since Liverpool won the title, and it does not get any easier.”

Benitez will make a late decision on whether defender Martin Skrtel can be risked with a broken jaw against Villa.

If he does not make the Villa game, Benitez hinted that he may well stick with teenager Daniel Ayala, with his new Greek defender short of match practice. Benitez, though, is confident that would not be a risk. He said: “Dani did very well against Stoke after a nervous start and it may be difficult to bring Kyrgiakos straight in.’’

Meanwhile James Milner believes Aston Villa should take encouragement from their away performances last season when they tackle Liverpool. The England winger admits Martin O’Neill’s side have to put on a better showing than in their home league defeat to Wigan and the loss away to Rapid Vienna in the Europa League play-off.

But Milner takes heart from Villa’s record of 10 league victories on the road during the 2008-09 campaign, including a win at Arsenal – although they were hammered 5-0 at Liverpool during a dismal end to the season.

Milner said: “I don’t think it’s a good or a bad thing that we’ve got Liverpool next. It doesn’t really matter. You’ve got to play everyone at some point in the season. We’re a good team away from home as we proved at the Emirates Stadium last year so we have to go out and put on a performance.

“It’s important and you always want to get your first points on the board as early as possible. We didn’t do that on the first day so now we have the chance to go to Liverpool and get a good result.”