Dean Smith: Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins yet to realise his full potential

Tomorrow’s trip to face the Reds will bring back happy memories for Watkins, who scored his first Premier League goals by bagging a hat-trick in Villa’s 7-2 rout of the champions last October.

The 25-year-old, who joined Villa from Brentford in a club record £28million deal, has since taken his tally to 11 goals in his maiden top-flight campaign.

Watkins has also earned a first England call-up, scoring against San Marino on his debut last month. But Smith thinks there is still plenty more to come.

He said: “Ollie will get better and better. It took him until the third game to score and it ended up being a hat-trick against the champions.

“Everyone at the club loves what he is about, his character and his attitude and will to get better.

“I was so pleased for him going and getting his first international goal for England and he deserved his goal against Fulham last Sunday for his work-rate.”

Smith is mulling possible changes to his midfield as Villa look to complete a league double against Liverpool for the first time since the 1992-93 season.

Both Morgan Sanson and Douglas Luiz were taken off in the win over Fulham with youngster Jacob Ramsey impressing in a cameo from the bench as Villa came from behind to claim victory.

Smith hopes his players can carry the momentum shown late in that game to Anfield.

He said: “There’s an awful lot of character in this dressing room. We have really good people as well as players within the squad.

“There’s a togetherness about us. We know it hasn’t been scintillating football over the last seven or eight games, but they certainly work hard enough to get results and big performances. I think some of them at the end of that (Fulham) game have played themselves into form again.”