O'Neill can't wait for curtain-raiser

Aug 10 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O'Neill is licking his lips at the make-up of his Villa side for tomorrow's Premiership opener against Liverpool, believing it has the hallmarks of both "pace and fire".

O'Neill will deploy both Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor to frighten Liverpool's defenders, while Nigel Reo-Coker has added definite steel to the midfield.

"I think we have got a little bit of pace in the team, and a bit of fire," said O'Neill. "I think Reo-Coker has been absolutely terrific for us."

Reo-Coker's form has been impressive in pre-season, with O'Neill impressed with how he has risen to the challenge.

"That is part of his game and that is why we chased him. He has a big influence on matches, he has a big influence on players around him and he can do a bit himself.

"If we can stay fit then we have some exciting potential going forward. Again, it is about shoring things up at the back and that is what we are addressing."

O'Neill knows there is a danger of the supporters, and to a lesser extent his team, being over confident because of the ease with which they despatched Inter Milan last Saturday.

"We played very well and it has given the boys a boost of confidence but Liverpool will be a totally different ball game," he said. "There will be different pressures, different everything. The Inter Milan game was a wee bit like our Charity Shield.

"Liverpool are physically strong. But the players are going in with plenty of confidence and I think we will go for it."

Stuart Taylor will start in goal before Scott Carson makes his likely debut at Newcastle in a week's time.

Craig Gardner will start at right-back while John Carew should recover from a groin problem to partner Agbonlahor up front.

That means Luke Moore and Marlon Harewood are likely to be on the bench alongside substitute keeper David Bevan and Gary Cahill with just one spot remaining for Patrik Berger or Shaun Maloney.