Aston Villa look like top-half material

17Dec 2012

Premier League

What a week it's been for Aston Villa as the midlanders booked their League Cup semi-final spot before defeating Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League...

Not many people would have included an Aston Villa win at Anfield in their weekend multiple but win they did, and in some style.

Villa's Belgian striker Christian Benteke ran riot on Merseyside, scoring twice as the visitors put Liverpool to the sword in an emphatic 3-1 victory.

However, it was not solely the exploits of Benteke and strike partner Andreas Weimann which ensured victory; it was yet another team performance of growing adhesiveness from Paul Lambert's vastly inexperienced side.

At the age of 23, Barry Bannan was the most Premier League-experienced player featuring in Villa's starting line-up - making just his 55th appearance - with many players still in the throes of their first full season in the top flight.

Lambert fielded three centre backs at Anfield with an average age of just 22, but still they appeared more than capable of dealing with Liverpool's threat, all willing to put their bodies on the line for the cause.

That win makes it five unbeaten in the league for the Villans, but just how far can this burgeoning young side go?

After a laboured start to Premier League life under Lambert, his side are now, rather ironically, following a Norwich-esque blueprint resulting in a steady ascent away from the danger zone.

Now there are just five points separating Villa in 14th from Swansea in tenth as the middle of the table takes on a distinctly concatenated look with Christmas approaching.

And after felling his old side in the Capital One Cup, surely there is now value in Lambert steering Villa into the top half of the table by May, a prospect which can be backed at 6.0.

After all, this is team which are only going to grow in stature as weeks such as this one give the players huge belief in their ability to deliver at this level. Only the two Manchester clubs have overcome this Villa side since defeat at Fulham almost two months ago and against United they were on course for a positive result before letting a two-goal lead get away.

The sky really is the limit for Lambert's fledgling side.