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Tag: Aston Villa

  • Liverpool a level above for their win – Gerrard

    Liverpool a level above for their win – Gerrard

    Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard had no complaints after their 1-0 defeat at Liverpool.

    Mohamed Salah struck the spot to mark Gerrard’s return to Anfield with defeat.

    He told liverpoolfc.com: “Box to box, Liverpool were a level above. I thought they showed their quality at times and you can really see why they are competing for league titles and competing in Europe until the latter stages, if not favourites to go and win it. I thought we did a good containing job on Liverpool for large periods; the plan was to take it to the latter stages and then throw more ambition and more quality players at it from the side and try to make Liverpool nervous. But the penalty incident is obviously a huge blow to us.

    “Look, I had to accept it was going to be emotional for me and my family. Of course it is; 17 years as a player and also coming here as an eight-year-old boy. I’ve spent many years and given a lot of my life to this football club. For me, it was trying to control that, trying to control the outside noise and be respectful to Aston Villa.

    “I thought our fans were terrific today. But I also respect the ovation I got and the relationship with the Liverpool fans. But the priority here was obviously Aston Villa.”

  • Liverpool beat Aston Villa on Gerrard’s return to Anfield

    Liverpool beat Aston Villa on Gerrard’s return to Anfield

    Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard made a losing return to Anfield as Liverpool continued their pursuit of Premier League leaders Manchester City with a hard-earned victory.

    Former Liverpool captain Gerrard was, predictably, given a rapturous reception after playing 710 games and scoring 186 goals for the club while winning the Champions League, FA Cup, Uefa Cup and League Cup.

    Gerrard’s response to the adulation was low-key as his Villa side, who had won three of his first four games in charge since arriving from Rangers, set about making life difficult for Liverpool and frustrating the Kop.

    Villa achieved their aim, aided by fine saves from keeper Emi Martinez, until they were finally undone in the 67th minute when Tyrone Mings bundled Mohamed Salah to the ground, the Egyptian scoring the spot-kick in emphatic fashion, the win leaving Liverpool in second place a point behind Manchester City.

    Substitute Danny Ings almost took advantage of a late mix-up between Liverpool keeper Alisson and Joel Matip which left Villa fans demanding a penalty in vain, but Jurgen Klopp’s side closed out the win.

  • FA Cup: Man Utd get Gerrard’s Aston Villa in fourth round [Full draw]

    FA Cup: Man Utd get Gerrard’s Aston Villa in fourth round [Full draw]

    The FA Cup fourth-round draw is in.

    Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa will travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, while Arsenal must make the trip to Nottingham Forest.

    Liverpool host Shrewsbury at home and Chelsea will welcome non-league Chesterfield to Stamford Bridge.

    Holders Leicester have received a home tie with Watford.

    Manchester City will take on League Two side Swindon Town.

    The ties will take place over the weekend of Friday 7 until Monday 10 January 2022.

     

    FA CUP FOURTH-ROUND DRAW IN FULL:

    Boreham Wood or St Albans City vs AFC Wimbledon

    Yeovil Town vs AFC Bournemouth

    Stoke City vs Leyton Orient

    Swansea City vs Southampton

    Chelsea vs Chesterfield

    Liverpool vs Shrewsbury Town

    Cardiff City vs Preston North End

    Coventry City vs Derby County

    Burnley vs Huddersfield Town

    West Bromwich Albion vs Brighton & Hove Albion

    Kidderminster Harriers vs Reading

    Leicester City vs Watford

    Mansfield Town vs Middlesbrough

    Hartlepool United vs Blackpool

    Hull City vs Everton

    Bristol City vs Fulham

    Tottenham Hotspur vs Morecambe

    Millwall vs Crystal Palace

    Port Vale vs Brentford

    Swindon Town vs Manchester City

    Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers

    Luton Town vs Harrogate Town

    Birmingham City vs Plymouth Argyle

    Manchester United vs Aston Villa

    Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United

    Newcastle United vs Cambridge United

    Barnsley vs Ipswich Town or Barrow

    Peterborough United vs Bristol Rovers

    West Ham United vs Leeds United

    Queens Park Rangers vs Rotherham United

    Charlton Athletic vs Norwich City

    Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

  • Gerrard’s Villa earn vital win at Crystal Palace

    Gerrard’s Villa earn vital win at Crystal Palace

    Steven Gerrard secured his second win as Aston Villa manager with a 2-1 victory over Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

    After wildly celebrating grabbing all three points late on against Brighton a week ago, the former Liverpool captain was again jubilant when Matt Targett put Villa ahead with a low drive through a crowd of bodies from Ashley Young’s corner on 15 minutes.

    As Palace tried to salvage something in the closing stages of the second half, John McGinn curled a beautiful shot into the top corner from the edge of the box to double the visitors’ lead against the run of play.

    Palace managed to snatch a late consolation through Marc Guehi in injury time but it was not enough to deny Villa.

    The travelling Villa support were treated to a confident performance in bitterly cold conditions in south London, with McGinn, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings all having chances for the visitors in the first half after Targett’s opener.

    Palace should have opened the scoring through Wilfried Zaha after the forward jinked past his marker on the edge of the Villa box but his left-footed effort was dragged just wide of the far post.

    The Eagles saw a great opportunity to equalise after the break denied when referee Michael Salisbury blew his whistle for a foul by Marvelous Nakamba on Zaha and missed the advantage Christian Benteke and Conor Gallagher had created.

    Villa almost played out the final quarter of the game with 10 men as substitute Douglas Luiz was shown a red card for a challenge on Cheikhou Kouyate, but it was downgraded to a yellow after Salisbury consulted the pitchside monitor.

    The win moves Villa up into 11th place, level on points with Palace in 10th.

  • Gerrard returns to Premier League with win over Brighton

    Gerrard returns to Premier League with win over Brighton

    Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings scored in the final six minutes as Steven Gerrard enjoyed a memorable first match as Aston Villa manager with victory over Brighton.

    Gerrard’s bow as a Premier League boss looked set to end in a goalless stalemate until his side broke from an 84th-minute Brighton corner.

    Villa went the full length of the field as substitute Ashley Young sent Watkins running down the left wing, with the England forward cutting inside the box before delivering a smart finish beyond Jason Steele.

    A minute from time, the hosts got their second as Adam Webster’s attempt to clear John McGinn’s cross went straight to Mings, who finished at the first attempt.

    Villa might have had a third but Steele did well to deny Leon Bailey in stoppage time.

    The victory ended a run of five straight defeats for Villa, with Gerrard taking applause from all sides of the ground before running down the tunnel in obvious delight.

  • EPL: I’m not here eyeing Liverpool job – Gerrard

    EPL: I’m not here eyeing Liverpool job – Gerrard

    New Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard used his first press conference to dismiss the idea the club is a stepping stone on his journey back to Liverpool.

    In previous years, the former Liverpool and England skipper has made no secret of his desire to return one day to Anfield as manager and but has now made clear that his sole focus in on Villa, who sacked Dean Smith after five straight defeats.

    “It’s very unfair to describe this as stepping stone, you will never hear me say that,” said Gerrard.

    “I am really honoured and proud to be here. I’m all-in and I will give this job all it needs to be successful.

    “I am 100 per cent committed and so are my staff. There is nothing wrong with having dreams and aspirations.

    “Liverpool have a world-class coach in Jurgen Klopp. If he was to sign a lifetime deal right now I would be very happy for him and them.”

    Gerrard was in regular contact with Klopp throughout his time at Rangers and revealed he had heard from the Liverpool boss since he took the Villa role.

    The pair retain a close relationship, ever since Gerrard was working at Anfield with Liverpool’s junior sides at the start of his coaching career.

    “I’ve been in touch with Jurgen Klopp since day one (when Gerrard stepped into coaching Liverpool’s junior teams). We live in the same area and I bump into him when he’s walking his dogs. He is a great coach and I hope he stays for a long time.

    “He sent me a message saying he was looking forward to a big hug on the side on December 11 and it’s something for me to look forward to as well.”

  • Gerrard doesn’t see Aston Villa as stepping stone – Carragher

    Gerrard doesn’t see Aston Villa as stepping stone – Carragher

    Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher insists Steven Gerrard isn’t taking the Aston Villa job with an eye on Anfield.

    The former Rangers manager was appointed at Villa today.

    “Aston Villa are no stepping stone for anyone, they have won the European Cup, the biggest club in the Midlands and one of the biggest in the UK,” Carragher said.

    “Now I’m sure everyone is well aware that one day Stevie would like to manage Liverpool if everything works out, but he would only want to manage Liverpool if he merited it and the club and the supporters would also think that. Liverpool are not in a position where they can just give a job in the future to someone just because they had a great playing career.

    “If Stevie does amazingly well at Villa and is qualifying for Europe and wins a Carabao Cup, maybe that will put him in the equation for Liverpool.

    “But for Stevie, it is just focussing on Villa and do not worry about anything else.”

  • Premier League club appoints Steven Gerrard as manager

    Premier League club appoints Steven Gerrard as manager

    Aston Villa have appointed Steven Gerrard as manager on a three-and-a-half year deal, ending his three-year reign at Rangers.

    The former Liverpool captain, 41, leaves the Scottish champions having guided them to a first league title in 10 years last season.

    Gerrard replaces Dean Smith, who was sacked on Sunday after a run of five successive defeats.

    Villa are 16th in the Premier League, two points above the relegation zone.

    “Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new head coach,” said Gerrard.

    “In my conversations with [co-owners] Nassef [Sawiris], Wes [Edens] and the rest of the board, it was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims.”

    Gerrard took his first steps in senior management with Scottish Premiership side Rangers in 2018, and leaves with them four points clear of rivals Celtic at the top of the table.

    BBC Sport Scotland reports Villa have paid Rangers £4.5m in compensation.

  • BREAKING: Aston Villa sack coach, Dean Smith

    BREAKING: Aston Villa sack coach, Dean Smith

    Aston Villa have sacked manager Dean Smith after three years in charge.

    Smith, 50, leaves following Villa’s 1-0 defeat by Southampton on Friday, the club’s fifth successive defeat in the Premier League.

    Villa are 15th in the league, two points above the relegation zone.

    “This year we have not seen the continuous improvement in results, performances and league position which we have all been looking for,” said Villa chief Christian Purslow.

    He added: “For this reason we have decided to make a change now to allow time for a new head coach to make an impact.”

    Smith was appointed Villa manager in October 2018, guiding them to promotion from the Championship in his first season in charge.

    Though they struggled in their first season in the top-flight, narrowly avoiding relegation, Smith led the club to the 2019-20 Carabao Cup final.

  • EPL: Partey scores first Arsenal goal in Villa win

    EPL: Partey scores first Arsenal goal in Villa win

    Arsenal earned a well-deserved victory over Aston Villa to move into the top half of the Premier League table.

    Thomas Partey headed in Emile Smith Rowe’s corner for his first goal for the Gunners – having earlier hit the crossbar.

    Right at the end of the first half, Arsenal were given a penalty after a long video assistant referee review for a Matt Targett foul on Alexandre Lacazette.

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty was saved excellently by former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez, but the Gabon striker put home the rebound from close range.

    Villa improved on a thoroughly wretched first half, but Smith Rowe scored Arsenal’s third 11 minutes into the second half.

    He won the ball in his own half and then finished the move via a deflection and the post.

    The visitors got a consolation when Jacob Ramsey curled his first Villa goal into the top corner from 20 yards. They put on good pressure and created a few chances in the closing stages but it was too little, too late.