The Napoli boss believes that the Reds can capitalise in the second half of the season without any European commitments and has hailed the progress of winger Raheem Sterling

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has backed the Reds to finish above Manchester United and claim a top-four spot in the Premier League this season.

Brendan Rodgers’ side currently occupy fourth place in the table, one point above Everton in fifth and five ahead of United, who are languishing in seventh after 21 matches played.

And Benitez, who guided Liverpool to second place back in 2008-09, believes the Reds will capitalise on the advantage of not having to play in Europe in the second half of the season and finish in the Champions League spots.

“I think it will be the season when my old club Liverpool will finish in the top four, and get back to experiencing the great Anfield Champions League nights which were very special to me,” the Napoli boss wrote in his column for The Independent.

“I think there will be a changing of places because Liverpool coming fourth will mean Manchester United finishing outside of the Champions League.

“It is hard to talk confidently about these things in a crazy British season, of course, but Liverpool will have one important advantage when January is over. That is time.

“They don’t have to play in Europe in the months ahead and that is a big advantage when the others are distracted by those commitments.

“City and Chelsea look like the best two squads in the Premier League to me. Looking from the outside here in Italy – from where I probably see less Premier League football than you – they are developing that soaring confidence.

“Chelsea are spending more money now, too, and building on the Europa League we won there. So, they are a little bit ahead of the others, with Arsenal just behind in the group who are stronger than all the rest.

“We will have to see if Manchester United can make it into the top four and, after all I have learnt about the club over the years, I know that you cannot rule it out.”

Raheem Sterling has emerged as a key member of Rodgers’ side, starting the Reds’ last 10 games, and Benitez spoke highly of the teenager, suggesting he has a good chance of breaking into England’s squad for the World Cup.

“I am sure we will talk more about England as the summer comes near, but one of the players we must watch now is Raheem Sterling,” he added. “I remember the day I met him, with his mother Nadine at Melwood.

“The head of our academy, Frank McParland, had been telling me how good he was and that we must sign him and when I took him on the tour of our Liverpool training ground that day we came across Fernando Torres. I introduced him to Fernando and he wasn’t fazed. That told me something.

“He was very young but he had that quality of wanting to receive and be on the ball. That is rare. England could benefit from the way he is meeting some of the expectations we had back then.”

Saturday evening sees Brendan Rodgers’ side face off with Paul Lambert’s men and our tipster is backing both sides to score at even money

Liverpool face Aston Villa this weekend with the Reds looking to cement their place in the top four. Villa have proved a bogey side for Liverpool at Anfield in recent years, with the Merseysiders only recording one victory in their last four fixtures at home.

Liverpool come into this match off the back of a enthralling win at Stoke last Sunday.

Rodgers’ side came out on top in the eight goal thriller, winning 5-3, with goals from Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge. The Reds have now won three in a row, and are 11/50 (1.22) with Betway to win again.

Aston Villa have struggled for results of late, winning only once in their last eight games. The Villans sit in 11th position in the league, with pressure mounting on Paul Lambert.

A positive from the season so far though is their away form, with Lambert’s side only being beaten twice in their last eight matches on the road. Betway don’t give them much hope against Liverpool though, pricing them at 11/1 (12.00). The same firm offer the draw at 5/1 (6.00).

Goal Betting have an exclusive offer with Betway for this match. Sign up to Betway and get 5/1 on Liverpool to win and Both Teams To Score. This in an offer only open to new account holders who sign up through Goal. Anyone without an account can sign up for one here.

With Liverpool’s goal machine Luis Suarez a short 7/4 (2.75) to net the first goal and just 7/20 (1.35) to score anytime, it’s worth looking elsewhere to find value.

Both teams to score is a fantastic even money (2.00) with Betway. This offers tremendous value when you consider it has paid out in six of Liverpool’s last eight home league matches. With Villa scoring seven goals in their last five away games, it’s certainly worth backing this price.

Sign up with Betway for a free £50 bet and back Hugh’s tip for this game

High-flyers Liverpool welcome Aston Villa on Saturday aiming to build on a seven-match winning run in home Premier League matches.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have been dominant at Anfield this season, recording 10 victories from 11 matches in all competitions.

The Merseysiders host a Villa team that have claimed just one win in their last seven league outings.

Liverpool’s resolute defence has formed a key part of their excellent home form, and no top-flight side can better their record of six goals conceded in league games in their own back yard.

But Villa have a solid record at Anfield in recent times, with just one loss in their last four visits, and claimed a 3-1 success on their last trip to Liverpool in December 2012.

One of the visitors’ biggest challenges comes in the form of the Premier League’s leading goalscorer, Luis Suarez, with the Uruguayan bagging 22 goals in 16 top-flight appearances thus far, 12 more than he registered in as many matches last season.

By contrast one of Villa’s main attacking threats, Christian Benteke, has struggled to build on an impressive first season in English football, scoring just five times in the Premier League this term.

But the Belgium international will take heart from grabbing the consolation goal in Monday’s 2-1 defeat to league leaders Arsenal, a strike that ended a scoreless run of 11 top-flight matches for the 23-year-old.

Paul Lambert’s charges occupy 11th position and will be buoyed by the fact that four of their six league wins have come away from home this campaign.

The hosts welcome back midfielder Joe Allen from an abductor problem, with centre-back Mamadou Sakho also in contention following a hamstring issue. Full-backs Jon Flanagan (hamstring) and Jose Enrique (knee) remain sidelined, as do centre-backs Daniel Agger (calf) and Sebastian Coates (knee).

Villa could hand a debut to striker Grant Holt after he completed his loan signing from Wigan Athletic on Tuesday, but centre-back Nathan Baker is absent after sustaining a concussion against Arsenal.