Iain Dowie can see Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill moving to Liverpool.

O'Neill and Dowie struck up a friendship while covering the 2006 World Cup for the BBC having previously met through their Northern Ireland connections.

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail at the Grass Roots Football LIVE event at the NEC, Dowie said: "Is Martin a serious candidate for the Liverpool job? No question.

"He would run Liverpool with strong discipline and his player selection is generally excellent. It doesn't surprise me that he's in the running, Kenny Dalglish and Roy Hodgson are also outstanding candidates.

"I have to say, that (the Liverpool vacancy) is a premier job, one of the top jobs. It's an outstanding club with outstanding fans. It is among the big three jobs in the country.

"I wouldn't blame Martin for being interested, Villa are in that big seven but I think Liverpool, along with Manchester United, are certainly one of the biggest in the world. They've had a difficult time but they'll be back better than ever.

"No-one decides what Martin wants to do. Let's not be disrespectful to Villa because they are a fantastic club, Martin's at a massive club now that are in with the biggest six or seven clubs in the country in terms of fan base and finances.

"But Liverpool and Manchester United are special clubs, historically it's difficult to look further than that."