Carew: Villa's position is 'no fluke'

John Carew believes Aston Villa have proved their high placing in the Barclays Premier League is "no fluke" as he prepares to face his former manager Rafael Benitez in Monday night's clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

The 28-year-old played under Benitez when he was in charge of Valencia and has immense respect for the Reds boss, and the Norway international is confident Villa have the ability to achieve a positive result and maintain their push for a European spot.

Carew told PA Sport: "Hopefully now we are showing that we at Aston Villa are capable - more than the last time or two we have faced them - of beating Liverpool. We have proved it is not a fluke because we have managed to keep it going for five or six months."