O'Neill was pleased with Barry's performance as he faced the Reds for the first time since the collapse of his transfer to Anfield.

O'Neill said: "Gareth did very well. He has had a lot to cope with in recent weeks with all the speculation.

"Three weeks ago I would have imagined he would be playing against us.

"It wasn't to be and we are pretty pleased and relieved that he is with us for the foreseeable future, and I thought it didn't bother him at all.

"He was getting a bit tired towards the end so I put him in at left-back where he can still be very solid for us"

O'Neill is now hoping Villa can be a test for all the leading sides as they bid to break into the top four.

He said: "We drew at Liverpool last season 2-2 in a thrilling game when conceding late on.

"We took four points off Chelsea and we led until the 93rd minute against Arsenal at the Emirates.

"When people talk about the records being not so good against these teams, I can only judge from the last couple of seasons and the points on the table.

"Now beating them, that would be certainly progress."