Liverpool vs Aston Villa preview - Dalglish accepts the size of the challenge

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish accepts the task of restoring the club to their once-envied position in European football will not be an easy one.

The Scot enjoyed a hugely successful career as a player at Anfield and continued that into his first spell in charge as Reds boss.

One of the most damning statistics which highlights the decline of a club so dominant at home and abroad from the late 1970s through to the late 1980s is that Dalglish is the last Liverpool manager to win the league championship 22 years ago.

Since then Manchester United have taken their place at the top of English football and, with Manchester City having flexed their considerable financial muscle to become genuine title contenders and Tottenham adding their name to the so-called `big four` Liverpool's - and Dalglish's task - has become even tougher.

They have not helped themselves this season as, just when it looked as though they were well poised to make a late run for Champions League qualification, having missed out the last two seasons, results have collapsed.

The Reds are now eighth in the table, enduring their worst run of form since 1953, and are 16 points adrift of fourth place, with the relegation zone (12 points) closer.

"It is always difficult to get back to where they were because they were so high up," admitted Dalglish.

"But it (the method for success) has not changed too much really - it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of effort.

"We have good players who can get there but you need confidence and belief in yourself and you need a bit of luck.

"We can work as hard as we possibly can and if we do our side of it then at least we can look at ourselves and say we had a right go at it.

"At every football club it is [about] hard work but I can't believe how hard work is a bonus for people.

"I think that was taken as given that you work hard; so for us we'll work hard because you get nothing if you don't.

"These lads are genuine and honest and they have worked really hard to get any success they have had.

"We just have to keep on going and believing and try to keep our confidence up that the hard work will be rewarded eventually."

With confidence visibly ebbing away with every loss, the players will find themselves tested at home to Aston Villa as ever-present goalkeeper Jose Reina begins a three-match suspension after his red card at Newcastle on Sunday.

He is likely to be replaced by Doni, the summer signing from Roma who will be making his competitive debut having played 57 minutes of an October friendly against Rangers before dislocating a finger.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish believes Dalglish is under as much pressure as any other manager ahead of the clash between the teams.

McLeish has urged his players not to have any fear against the Merseysiders - even though injuries and illness have left him without several senior players.

The Scot said: "There's pressure on everybody. I know what Kenny will be feeling. I know Liverpool are 11 players with two legs - the same as everybody else.

"That's why we should not have any fear going to Anfield. At the same time you would be thinking that Kenny will be looking for a reaction from their players.

"As I say, everybody is under pressure regardless of whether they are in the top half of the table or the bottom.

"From now until the end of the season, every single manager, every single player, will be under pressure at some time, without doubt."

McLeish added: "Is it a good time to play at Liverpool? It's been a formidable place and I'm sure they will want to make it a formidable place again. In recent times it hasn't been as formidable.

"That has got to be the challenge for Kenny in the coming weeks, months and years.

"Right at this moment in time we are going up to face Liverpool, and they are going through a little bit of a sticky spell, so, quite simply, we have got to try to prolong that spell."

Right-back Alan Hutton is expected to be fit after missing the 4-2 home defeat by Chelsea last weekend with a calf injury but rookie striker Andreas Weimann is doubtful with an ankle injury.

Captain Stiliyan Petrov (leukaemia), winger Charles N'Zogbia (knee), striker Darren Bent (ankle), defenders Richard Dunne (shoulder) and Carlos Cuellar (thigh) and midfielder Fabian Delph (ankle) are all unavailable.