Olof Mellberg claims keeping Gareth Barry at Villa Park is the key if the club is to suceed in its ambition to break into the top four and Champions League football in the next couple of seasons.

The Sweden international said his goodbyes to his Villa team-mates at the weekend but insisted while he felt his time was right at the age of 30 to finish his career elsewhere, he hoped Martin O'Neill would be able to hang on to Barry.

Mellberg said he had not spoken to Barry about his future but hoped Villa were successful in fending off Liverpool.

He said: "It's a decision to be made by Gareth and the club. They will meet and discuss it over the next few weeks. Gareth is very important to Villa - he's been a key player for us for many seasons now.

"It will be difficult to break into the big four. At the moment Villa are trying to establish themselves just behind them. That is not easy because a lot of sides are in the chasing pack and are competing for those positions.

"If Villa can establish itself over a couple of seasons just outside those Champions League places then maybe it can push into the top four."