Rafael Benitez today called on his players to build on their Boxing Day victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers by denting Aston Villa's top four ambitions.

Liverpool head to Villa Park on Tuesday boosted by the 2-0 success against Wolves, and the boss is eager for his side to maintain their increased confidence by claiming another three points in the Midlands.

"After the win over Wolves, we will now have more confidence and that will be very good for the whole team," he said.

"But we know we have to keep winning to get fourth place. We need clean sheets and we now have to be ready for Aston Villa.

"We must discover if we have the confidence now to win there and to get closer to the top of the table.

"But we know Villa are a very good team who are ahead of us, and one we must beat.

"To get back to where we want to be we must start winning games in a row. If we do that at Villa it will be easier for us to keep our confidence higher."

Villa go into the game on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, but Martin O'Neill's fifth-placed charges are currently five points ahead of Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League.

"If we can win at Villa we will gain more confidence for the future," continued Benitez.

"Villa, Spurs and Manchester City are all doing well and we know we must compete with them for fourth place.

"We know, though, that this time it is more difficult. Previously Villa have done well in the first half of a season and then lost games.

"But they have spent some money, they have good players, and we accept that they will make it difficult for us."