Aston Villa have dismissed talk of losing manager Martin O'Neill to Liverpool.

While other top managers, including Roy Hodgson, Guus Hiddink and Louis Van Gaal, have been put in the frame, O'Neill has long been linked with the Reds and the Northern Irishman is said to be top of the wanted list of a board who would favour a British boss.

However, the latest round of speculation has been shrugged off by Villa officials, who insist O'Neill remains committed to his current job.

While the club felt it unnecessary to issue an official statement, one source told the Birmingham Mail: "It's rubbish. There's absolutely nothing in it. If you look at the way Liverpool is being run at the moment, why would Martin O'Neill want to go there?

"For the last 15 years bookmakers have been putting Martin forward as a favourite to get any top job that has become vacant so that doesn't make any difference."