Sat 21st Nov - Turf Moor
Carew: High expectations
Looking at Liverpool on Sunday, we have nothing to be scared of.
John Carew
Quotes of the week
Aston Villa striker John Carew has revealed that he and his team-mates have a 'definite belief' they can break into the top four of the Premier League.
Liverpool, who finished in the final UEFA Champions League qualifying spot last season, were held to a goalless draw at Villa Park on Sunday and Carew believes the result represents progression.
Carew feels Villa have improved drastically under manager Martin O'Neill and the Norwegian thinks that was reflected by the respect offered from a cautious Liverpool side at the weekend.
Villa secured a sixth-placed spot last term and Carew is expecting an improved performance in 2008/09.
"The fact we are disappointed at not beating Liverpool shows the club is going forward," Carew said.
"It almost looked like they came for a draw. They had a lot of guys behind the ball. The fact they played like that showed they are wary of our attack.
"It was difficult to create chances but their approach probably affected a bit of their offensive play as well because they didn't really create anything either.
"There is a definite belief among the younger lads that they can break into the top four.
"We were not 100 per cent satisfied with a draw against Liverpool and that means the club is moving in the right direction - and that is definitely to be amongst the top four.
"Looking at Liverpool on Sunday, we have nothing to be scared of.
"We shouldn't be scared of having that top four aim as an ambition. The squad looks really good and bigger and stronger than before."

Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa - Thompson
Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa - Coyle
Warnock on England
Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton - Nicholas
Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton - O'Neill
West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa - O'Neill
West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa - Zola
Injury woes worry O'Neill
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Tuesday 1st December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Hull |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Stoke |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Liverpool |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Aston Villa |
| Sunday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Aston Villa vs West Ham |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Aston Villa |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Burnley |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Aston Villa |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Monday 5th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 1 Man City | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Cardiff | |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 0 Fulham | |
| Thursday 27th August | |
| Europa League Qualifying | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Rapid Vienna | |
| Monday 24th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 1 - 3 Aston Villa | |
| Thursday 20th August | |
| Europa League Qualifying | |
| Rapid Vienna 1 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 2 Wigan | |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Fiorentina | |
| Tuesday 4th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Oxford Utd 2 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 2nd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Juventus 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 25 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 13 | 22 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 12 | 21 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 13 | 20 |
Pictures from Saturday's action where Liverpool draw with Man City and Arsenal lose away.
Bristol City fan Hannah Shine was strutting her as the Soccerette in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Preston North End fan Hazel Fox was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was delighted to see Stewart Downing make his debut for the club.
Chelsea continued their relentless march at the top of the table as Arsenal lost to Sunderland and Manchester City held Liverpool.
Martin O'Neill felt Aston Villa were good value for their 1-1 draw away at Burnley on Saturday.
Aston Villa left it late before securing a 1-1 draw against Burnley at fortress Turf Moor on Saturday.
Milan Jovanovic's agent has played down speculation that the Serbia star could be on the move in January.