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Now comes the true litmus test of Liverpool’s spirited revival.

Having made a habit of brushing aside the Premier League’s also-rans in recent weeks, Brendan Rodgers’ side face a step up in class at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Old foes Chelsea lie in wait. Once again Jose Mourinho stands between the Reds and a showpiece final.

There is currently no bigger test in English football. The Londoners’ ruthless 5-0 thrashing of Swansea City on Saturday cemented their place at the top of the Premier League table.

Yet there is no need for Liverpool to approach their Capital One Cup semi-final tie with a sense of trepidation.

Yes, they might lack the predatory instincts of Diego Costa or the individual creative genius of Oscar or Eden Hazard.

But as a cohesive unit the Reds are starting to click. Rodgers has once again found a formula to ensure that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Chelsea will certainly encounter a very different Liverpool to the one they swept aside with relative ease at Anfield in November.

Back then – following successive defeats to Newcastle and Real Madrid – uncertainty and anxiety ruled.

Emre Can’s deflected strike put the Reds ahead but Chelsea ultimately won with a swagger as the hosts’ defensive frailties were exposed.

It was a world away from the smash and grab raid Mourinho had overseen in April when Liverpool’s title dream went up in smoke.

In the autumn they were two clubs heading in opposite directions but two months on Rodgers has put his Anfield reign back on track.

“We’ve regained our identity,” the manager said in the wake of Saturday’s 2-0 win at Villa Park which extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches.

That was showcased not only by the quality of some of the Reds’ approach play but also by the character and camaraderie on display in the Midlands.

The switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation has led to Liverpool recapturing their creative spark.

Where earlier in the campaign their build up play was painfully slow and predictable now they are moving the ball at pace and getting in behind teams. The counter-attack is once again a deadly weapon for them.

The balance of the side looks right. The in-form Philippe Coutinho has a licence to thrill from a central role, while the rock-solid Lucas Leiva gives the flair players around him a platform to deliver.

The high intensity pressing game has been revived and that has enabled the Reds to force errors high up the field and take control.

Whisper it quietly but even their Achilles heel appears to have been addressed. For the first time since 2008 Liverpool have kept three successive away clean sheets in the league.

The three-man backline of Emre Can, Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho barely put a foot wrong against Villa.

Can has blossomed since he came off the bench at Burnley on Boxing Day. His future may lie in the centre of midfield but he has showcased his versatility.

The young German is strong and combative, and he dealt brilliantly with the sizeable threat of Christian Benteke.

Sakho is another who has grasped the opportunity to come out from the shadows and play a leading role. His confidence is growing and he’s an increasingly commanding figure.

Skrtel has certainly looked more comfortable with Can and Sakho for company.

Behind them, Simon Mignolet enjoyed his best afternoon in a Liverpool shirt since the opening day win over Southampton. His stunning block to deny Benteke when it was 1-0 was crucial but there was plenty else to admire about his performance.

The much-maligned Belgian commanded his box so much better than he has done for most of the campaign. He came off his line to cling on to a host of set-pieces and ease the pressure. He deserved the bit of luck he got when one corner eluded him and Nathan Baker nodded over.

“He looked like a Liverpool No 1 today,” Rodgers said. “I hope it’s a turning point for Simon.”

Mignolet’s Reds career appeared to be in tatters when he was dropped for last month’s trip to Old Trafford. But a thigh injury to Brad Jones quickly handed him a shot at redemption and his response has been impressive.

Liverpool’s search for a new keeper won’t end as Jones is out of contract this summer but Mignolet has shown he has the stomach for a fight.

The same goes for the Reds’ two goal scorers, who gleefully ended their respective droughts.

Fabio Borini has taken plenty of stick for refusing to heed his manager’s advice to sign for either Sunderland or QPR last summer.

But Borini will believe his decision to stay put as a squad player at a club challenging for trophies rather than starting every week in a grim relegation battle has been vindicated.

The Italian expertly tucked away an inviting cross from the outstanding Jordan Henderson to notch his first goal for the club since April 2013.

Henderson, skipper in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, led by example throughout – mixing total commitment with an eye-catching range of passing.

If Raheem Sterling hadn’t chipped a golden chance tamely at Brad Guzan, Liverpool would have been cruising.

Rodgers’ side had to deal with a sustained second-half onslaught but rather than wilt they dug in and repelled Villa’s advances.

That spirit was epitomised by the scenes of jubilation after substitute Rickie Lambert drilled home his first goal in nine appearances to wrap up the points late on.

Lambert raced towards the away end to be mobbed by the travelling Kop before his team-mates joined the party.

Within seconds of the final whistle the chants about Chelsea began. Mourinho will discover that at Anfield belief has been restored.

MATCH FACTS

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Baker, Cissokho, Sanchez, Westwood (Gil 59), Delph, Cleverley (Weimann 59), Benteke, Agbonlahor.

Not used: Given, Bacuna, Richardson, N’Zogbia, Lowton.

Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Markovic, Henderson, Lucas, Moreno (Enrique 71), Sterling (Ibe 85), Coutinho, Borini (Lambert 71).

Not used: Ward, Manquillo, Lallana, Williams.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Attendance: 39, 758

Goals: Borini 24, Lambert 79

Bookings: Okore, Lambert

Man of the match: Jordan Henderson. Outstanding performance from the stand-in skipper who created the opening goal and showcased his range of passing throughout.