Sun 24th May - Villa Park
By Richard Torgerson Last updated: 29th December 2008
Laursen: Points to Reds
You should never write off Manchester United or Chelsea, but at the moment, Liverpool are ahead on all levels
Martin Laursen
Quotes of the week
Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen believes Liverpool will win the Premier League after watching Sunday's 5-1 destruction of Newcastle.
Laursen is fully aware of how impressive the win was for Liverpool as they ended the year three points clear at the top.
Newcastle have fared well against the top teams this season, including an away win against Laursen's Villa, as well as two draws against Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
After Liverpool's emphatic win over the weekend, Laursen feels the Merseyside club are in prime position to end their 18-year-wait for league success.
"Liverpool are great and my favourites to win the title," the 31-year-old told Ekstra Bladet.
"Everything works for the team and they play positive and attacking football. They have a good squad and seek goal opportunities all the time.
"You should never write off Manchester United or Chelsea, but at the moment, Liverpool are ahead on all levels."
Laursen also singled out Reds skipper Steven Gerrard as the outstanding performer at St James' Park and he feels the midfielder will be pivotal in Liverpool's quest to bring the title back to Anfield.
"Gerrard was the man (against Newcastle)," Laursen added.
"He both scored and created opportunities for other players. He is a great player that has had an enormous impact on Liverpool's success.
"If he can make it through the season without injuries, then Liverpool will look more and more like champions to me."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 18th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Peterborough vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 21st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Colchester vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 21:30 | Aston Villa vs Malaga |
| Wednesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:30 | Aston Villa vs Atlante |
| Tuesday 4th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Oxford Utd vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Fiorentina |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Fulham |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Man City |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 4th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Hull | |
| Saturday 25th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 1 West Ham | |
| Sunday 12th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 3 - 3 Everton | |
| Sunday 5th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 3 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 22nd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 5 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 15th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 2 Tottenham | |
| Wednesday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 2 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Stoke | |
| Thursday 26th February | |
| Europa League | |
| CSKA Moscow 2 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Wednesday 18th February | |
| Europa League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 1 CSKA Moscow | |
| Sunday 15th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Everton 3 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 0 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 4th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Aston Villa 3 - 1 Doncaster | |
| Saturday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 0 Wigan | |
| Tuesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Birmingham City | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | 0 |
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