The Scot refuses to dwell on December’s 3-1 away win over the Reds, but is confident that his side are in good to shape to complete a league double over the Merseyside outfit

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has told his players that December’s 3-1 victory at Anfield will count for nothing when they host Liverpool on Sunday.

The Villans put in one of their best performances of the season that day and will fancy their chances of completing a double over Brendan Rodgers’ side after winning two consecutive league games for the first time.

Although the former Norwich coach admits that his side are in good shape going into Sunday’s match, he is refusing to get too carried away.

“I don’t know if you ever get a complete performance but, that day, we played very, very well,” he told reporters.

“Periods like that make you stronger when you’re getting beat and beat. You just know it’s in your abilities to win a game but sometimes you need a break to do so.

“The Anfield game has long gone, it’s finished. It will have no bearing on what happens now. The fact we’ve won the last two games is something more to take into it than what we did at Liverpool. But, in the last few weeks, we’ve played really well. We’re playing well enough to try and win it on Sunday.

“I want to try to win it. Someone has just told me it will be the first time since 2009-10 if we win three in a row. We’re only four points from 11th. One or two wins and you pull clubs back into it.”

Like Villa, Liverpool have one of the youngest squads in the Premier League, but Lambert insists that the Reds have enough quality in their ranks to make life very difficult for his side.

“We’re going to have to play very well to win,” he continued. “They have some top players; world-class players. Not just [Luis] Suarez, but [Steven] Gerrard, [Jamie] Carragher… guys who have won European Cups and World Cups.

“Brendan [Rodgers] has said it will take three or four years to get where he wants to get it. We’re trying to build certain things as well. We want to try and change something and I think the crowd are right behind it. This game is virtually sold out.

“If we can keep that level up, the crowd will be right with us again. The lads have kept on going. They are handling the pressure of it and know what they can do. The fact they have not melted under it is amazing.”

The Swansea captain has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, but his coach is hopeful he will remain in south Wales

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup believes Ashley s will stay at the Liberty Stadium despite rumours linking him with a move to Arsenal.
Swans vice-captain s has also been linked with Liverpool after an impressive campaign which has seen him lift the Capital One Cup and help the Welsh club push into the top half of the Premier League table.

Laudrup admitted speculation is a natural thing when players are performing well, but is confident he can persuade his stars to stay put.

“We know that there will be a lot of rumours – I’ve said that before – about some of our players because they’ve done well this season,” he told reporters.

“But again, a lot of our players, especially the regulars, have renewed their contract this season, among others Ashley.

“When your players are doing well it’s normal that there’s interest from bigger clubs sometimes.

“[But] I imagine if someone is renewing and extending their contract [it is] because they want to stay next season.

“But you never know in football. I know that, I’ve been here enough.”

The Premier League powerhouses have both enquired about the availability of the highly rated England Under-17 international but Londoners prepared to resist £1million-plus offers

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in signing Fulham sensation Patrick Roberts, Goal.comhas learned.

The Premier League powerhouses have both enquired about the availability of the highly rated forward.

Roberts only turned 16 last month but is earning a reputation as one of the outstanding players in his age group in the country. He has become a regular for Fulham Under-18s and has featured for England Under-17s over the last week.

Fulham are not able to tie Roberts down to a professional contract until he is 17 but the west Londoners have a terms of agreement with the player that gives them a degree of protection for the next year.

Liverpool have been closely monitoring Roberts for a long time, while United have stepped up their interest in recent weeks.

United academy chiefs were understood to have been extremely impressed with him when the club’s Under-18s hosted Fulham earlier this month. Roberts scored the visitors’ only goal as the Londoners slumped to a 3-1 defeat.

United and Liverpool would both be prepared to offer more than £1million in compensation to snare the youngster but Fulham have no interest in selling a player they rate very highly.