In talking about fourth place in the Premier League, Aston Villa are the dark horses.

With all this talk of the two Merseysiders everyone seems to be forgetting Aston Villa, a fast young side managed by the more than capable Martin O'Neill. 

The Ulsterman who exudes geek chic, and is very different from the two Merseyside managers is sparring with for fourth place. He is loved by the players and his managerial style is one of likeability as opposed to Rafa Benitez' managerial isolationism.

'Villa have to play Everton at Goodison. Although that game is guaranteed to be a noisy affair, they are more than capable of winning there'


And the style that Villa play with, all pace and width, is also different from the way David Moyes sets up his Everton side, although both teams harry and pressurise until the final whistle.

Whereas Liverpool are continuously being rocked by seismic arguments in the boardroom and on the field, Aston Villa's American owner Randy Lerner operates with a much less visible and less antagonistic style.

Because of his benign and philanthropic presence at Villa Park, fans have even been observed on occasion to sing his name in the stands, a far cry from the wailing and gnashing at Anfield.

The whole club seems to be gliding towards success unencumbered by the nosey presence of the "meeja". Even Randy Lerner's spending - which includes a spree of over £40m in his first 12 months, has happened without a fanfare.

I doubt that O'Neill would have it any differently. Whereas the spotlight remains firmly on Merseyside, Villa are more than capable of sneaking away with the last coveted Champions League berth - in large part thanks to the fixture list.

The six pointer between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield will affect three teams, and a draw would be best for Villa, they also have to play Everton at Goodison. Although that game is guaranteed to be a noisy affair, Villa are more than capable of winning there.

Aside from the Everton fixture Villa's only other tough game will be to travel to Old Trafford. Their remaining fixtures are against middling teams that will be meandering through their remaining games, Villa - who will definitely have something to fight for - should be able to secure a clutch of points from these match-ups.

Villa have a very strong squad, peppered with young talents, and a manager and owner who are both heading in the exact same direction. O'Neill has already stated that he thinks Lerner is in for the long haul, and he expects the American to offer him huge wads of cash for improvements in the summer. Even if Villa don't get fourth this season, the solid and quiet manner in which they have built up their arms, like a sneaky Cold War nation, means that they could shock people in the seasons to come.

That Villa have snuck under the press radar is exactly what O'Neill would have wanted, but can they sneak in and pickpocket the Mersey clubs?