Expectations were high when Steven Gerrard was named as Aston Villa manager in November 2021 – but it hasn’t exactly gone to plan.
Gerrard enjoyed a sensational playing career at Liverpool and became a youth coach at his boyhood club after hanging up his boots.
The former England international then got his first management job in 2018 when he agreed terms with Rangers to succeed Pedro Caixinha. He helped revitalise the club and they won the Scottish Premier League in 2020-21, ending Celtic’s nine-year grip on the trophy.
But Gerrard could not pass up the opportunity to return to the Premier League and was named as Dean Smith’s successor at Villa Park.
The 42-year-old made some improvements and oversaw comprehensive wins over Southampton and Leeds. But Villa also lost six of their final 12 league games in 2021-22 and that form has carried on into the current campaign.
After a disappointing draw against bottom-dwellers Nottingham Forest, Gerrard bemoaned his side’s lack of quality as another winnable fixture slipped through his fingers.
“There is a lot of frustration there. I have challenged the forward players to give us more in that area of the pitch.
“We just need more quality from some of our big hitters. When we get that and when they step forward with more for us I am sure we can turn these draws into wins. Tonight was a incredible opportunity for us to really jump up the league and we haven’t grabbed it.
“Once we get that from the big players I am sure we are going to move up the league. Hopefully players can get into better form. If not I am going to have to change things, whether that is personnel or system.
“Right now, I am thinking about the weekend and there could be changes in the team. So it could be pretty quick.”
We’ve taken a look at how the Premier League table would look if it began when Gerrard was appointed by Villa. Note: all teams have played 36 league games and only those who have been in the league in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns are included.
1. Manchester City – 93 points
2. Liverpool – 79 points (35 games played)
3. Tottenham – 75 points
4. Arsenal – 73 points
5. Chelsea – 64 points (35 games played)
6. Newcastle United – 58 points
7. Manchester United – 56 points (35 games played)
8. Brighton – 48 points (35 games played)
9. Aston Villa – 44 points (GD: 0)
10. Brentford – 44 points (GD: -8)
11. West Ham United – 43 points
12. Wolves – 42 points
13. Crystal Palace…
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