John Aldridge: Liverpool FC's Lucas is answering his critics but he could still face axe

Lucas has developed as a player. His use of the ball has improved and he's looking stronger physically. He's also displaying much more confidence than we've seen from him before.

But saying that, whether he's good enough to start in our best team when everyone is available is debatable.

Steven Gerrard could return at St James' Park on Saturday and if he's fully fit then he has to come straight back into the side.

The best place for Gerrard is in the centre and I still believe the captain alongside Raul Meireles is our best midfield partnership.

That would be harsh on Lucas as he certainly doesn't warrant being dropped. It's a hard one for the manager but you have to go with your strongest side in an attacking sense to really go looking for a win.

David Ngog had one of his best games for the club against Villa and I would keep him up front alongside Fernando Torres.

Without Torres, Gerrard or Jamie Carragher, I was worried before Monday's game. They are our three best outfield players and to win 3-0 without them was a great effort.

Thankfully, in their absence others stepped up to the mark. We didn't play fantastically well and it was a good time to play a depleted Villa side but we did a professional job.

Lucas and Meireles bossed the midfield from start to finish and it was good to see Ngog and Ryan Babel on the scoresheet. Of course neither of them are going to keep a top player like Torres out of the team but you need to keep him on his toes.

Hodgson has said to Babel 'you are going to be competing for a centre forward's spot' and that looks like the right way to get the best out of him as he looks lost on the wing.

Babel did okay. He has to be careful about his runs because too often he strays offside but it was good to see a centre forward playing off the shoulder of a centre-back.

The reception Gerard Houllier received was very generous.

Liverpool fans never forget what someone has done for the club and the treble in 2001 was memorable.

However, it's also difficult to forget the fact he signed players like El Hadji Diouf, Bruno Cheyrou and Djibril Cisse.

If I was Houllier I'd be worried because Villa were very poor.

I was glad Ashley Young was missing due to suspension because he's someone I rate very highly.

I would love to see Young in a Liverpool shirt as a top left winger would really give the team a good balance.

Things are looking rosier at Anfield and we've got Torres and Gerrard to come back.

But if we're going to achieve anything this season we need to turn our away form around. I just hope we're positive at Newcastle and take the game to them like we did at Spurs.

Pepe Reina showed his class on record-breaking night

I'M delighted for Pepe Reina who has become the fastest keeper in the club's history to claim a century of league clean sheets.

Reina beat a record set by Ray Clemence and he reminded me of him on Monday.

The Spaniard had little to do all night but underlined just how good his concentration is with a vital save early in the second half.

If Villa had made it 2-1 then things could have been different.

Pepe was faultless and it was a real captain's performance.

He also played a massive role in our third goal with his throw out to Maxi Rodriguez.

£9million agents bill is major concern

IT'S frightening that Liverpool spent over £9million on agents fees in the last year.

I've been out of the game for a while now and admit I don't know exactly how it works these days.

I accept dealing with agents is part and parcel of signing a player, but for the club to throw away that much money on them in the space of 12 months is just ridiculous.

The alarm bells should be ringing for the new owners.

Manchester City spent hundreds of millions on new signings but not even they came close to matching our bill for agents.

As far as I'm concerned clubs should have to publish a breakdown of exactly where those fees went.

If that was the case then clubs might be more careful about what they agree to.

Paul Konchesky must build on promising display

PAUL KONCHESKY had his best game for Liverpool against Aston Villa.

I have been on Konchesky's case because he hasn't performed but hopefully that display will help him turn his season around and take his Reds career forward.

To be fair to him, he held his hands up after the defeat at Spurs and admitted he hasn't been playing well.

Against Villa there was a big improvement.

Too often this season he's let crosses come into the box but on Monday night he closed people down quicker. His positional play was a lot better.

For a long time his place in the side was nailed on but now that Fabio Aurelio is fit that's no longer the case.

Having that competition for places is important and I'm sure it contributed to Konchesky raising his game.

Having Konchesky and Aurelio fighting hard for that left-back spot can only be good news for the Reds.

Sacking of Chris Hughton is a disgrace

IT COULD go either way for Newcastle when Liverpool travel up there on Saturday.

They could be vulnerable with everyone feeling down after the departure of Chris Hughton. Alternatively, they may have a new manager in place who comes in and lifts morale.

What I do know is that sacking Hughton was an absolute disgrace. Newcastle are a great club with great fans who I've got a lot of respect for.

However, I haven't got respect for their chairman.

The way Mike Ashley has treated the man who took them back into the Premier League is shocking.

It's only a few weeks since they hammered Sunderland 5-1 and won at the Emirates.

I don't want to see Newcastle get relegated but if they do go down then Ashley deserves everything he gets.