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Tag: Gerrard

  • I don’t want to be Gerrard in Liverpool – Szoboszlai

    I don’t want to be Gerrard in Liverpool – Szoboszlai

    Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has said he doesn’t want to be compared with the club legend, Steven Gerrard but only wants to be himself.

    Szoboszlai admits his first days with Liverpool were surreal.

    The midfielder has been outstanding for the Reds since his summer arrival from RB Leipzig.

    “It’s crazy,” Szoboszlai told Football Focus. “When I came, [in] the first days I was like, ‘Am I on PlayStation or something?!’

    “It was great to know them and how they are, not only from the television. To play with them is even better.”

    While keen to avoid comparisons with Reds legend Steven Gerrard, Szoboszali also said: “I don’t want to be him, I want to be myself.

    “But of course if they put a paper in front of me now and say you’re going to have the same impact or the same career here in Liverpool, I’m going to sign it directly!”

  • It’s time for Kane to leave Tottenham – Gerrard

    It’s time for Kane to leave Tottenham – Gerrard

    Former England international Steven Gerrard can see Harry Kane leaving Tottenham this summer.

    Gerrard is in Naples for the start of England’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign against Italy as Kane became the Three Lions’ all-time leading scorer with his 54 goals.

    Kane came close to leaving Tottenham in the summer of 2021 for Manchester City, but their reported offer of around £100 million was not enough to satisfy Daniel Levy.

    The England captain is once again being linked with a move away from North London as time runs out for him to start winning trophies.

    Gerrard said on Channel 4 at half-time after Kane converted his penalty: “It’s an incredible penalty, it’s precise, takes the side-netting off. He’s one of the best penalty-takers in the world, that’s why it was such a surprise what happened to him in the World Cup.

    “You’re talking about greatness, you’re talking about one of the best number nines in the world right now and that’s the reason why every transfer window he’s ahead in terms of all the talks because, you know, maybe it is time, maybe it is time for him to move on.”

  • Why Coutinho must apologize to Gerrard – Agbonlahor

    Why Coutinho must apologize to Gerrard – Agbonlahor

    Former Aston Villa attacker Gabriel Agbonlahor has insists Philippe Coutinho owes sacked manager Steven Gerrard an apology for his performances.

    The Brazilian, an ex-Liveprool teammate of Gerrard’s, originally came to Villa on loan from Barcelona midway through last season.

    His early promise for Villa led to the club signing him permanently.

    However, Coutinho has failed to hit the same heights so far this season.

    The former Villa striker said on talkSPORT: “Coutinho was his man and he didn’t perform for him. Coutinho owes Gerrard an apology for me for the way he performed, Gerrard backed him.”

    He added: “The formation wasn’t working, he wanted the full-backs to have the width but it wasn’t working. He (Gerrard), got rid of all the wingers, and that annoyed fans a bit.

    “We became predictable and boring and with too many balls into the box where the strikers were not going to win the headers.

    “The tactics were poor and it was just a matter of time. Aston Villa want to push into Europe, not be fighting relegation.”

  • Gerrard breaks silence with personal statement after Villa sack

    Gerrard breaks silence with personal statement after Villa sack

    Sacked Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has released a statement after leaving the Premier League club on Thursday night.

    The Liverpool legend oversaw a torrid start to the season with Villa looming just one spot above the league’s relegation zone having lost six of their opening 11 games.

    Thursday’s defeat at Fulham was the last chance for Gerrard to prove he was the best man for job, and was given his marching orders by club executives before the team travelled home from London.

    The 42-year-old Englishman took to his Instagram on Friday evening to thank the club’s supporters, players, staff, and board of directors.

    Gerrard additionally proceeded to admit it “is regrettable that it didn’t work out”.

    “I would like to thank everyone connected to Aston Villa Football Club, for the support shown to me during my time there. I would personally like to thank the board of directors, the players and all the staff for their hard work.

    “To the fans, it is regrettable that it didn’t work out in the end, but I owe you a debt of gratitude for the way you welcomed me into your club, and continued to push the team on during difficult times.

    “Aston Villa is a club with a special history, I really wanted to bring back those memorable achievements, unfortunately it wasn’t to be. I wish everyone at the club all the very best for the future.

    “SG.”

  • EPL: Gerrard’s men defeat Frank Lampard’s Everton

    EPL: Gerrard’s men defeat Frank Lampard’s Everton

    Danny Ings and Emiliano Buendia scored to get Aston Villa’s Premier League campaign up and running with victory over Everton as Steven Gerrard got one over on his old midfield rival Frank Lampard.

    The two were facing each other as managers for the first time after years of battles on the pitch in games between Liverpool and Chelsea.

    Both had overseen losses in their Premier League openers and it was Gerrard’s side who claimed their first win of the season with a dominant display at Villa Park.

    The home side looked on it from the start and got the breakthrough midway through the first half when Ollie Watkins, making his first start of the season, found strike partner Ings inside the box and he turned sharply before firing clinically into the back of the net.

    Everton, once again playing without a recognised striker, did not manage a shot on target in the first half, although they did see an Anthony Gordon effort ruled out by the video assistant referee for offside.

    Substitute Buendia saw a deflected shot cleared off the line as Vila pressed for a second, which duly arrived in the closing stages when Buendia stabbed in following a good move.

    Lucas Digne turned a cross into his own net immediately after to give Everton hope, and they staged a late rally as Gordon was twice denied by Martinez, but Villa held firm to take the three points.

    BBC

  • EPL: Gerrard finally speaks on helping Liverpool win the league

    EPL: Gerrard finally speaks on helping Liverpool win the league

    Former England Midfielder and current Aston Villa manager, Steven Gerrard has reacted to insinuations that he would help either Liverpool or Manchester City win the league.

    Aston Villa will get 15million pounds add on if Manchester City win the league for the acquisition of Jack Grealish.

    Gerrard will travel to The Etihad knowing that victory could help his former club Liverpool lift a second Premier League title in three seasons.

    However, Gerrard has insisted that his integrity should not be questioned ahead of their trip to Manchester City on Sunday.

    Gerrard will travel to The Etihad knowing that victory could help his former club Liverpool lift a second Premier League title in three seasons.

    The Reds currently sit one point behind Pep Guardiola’s men going into the final day of the campaign.

    With all the final day fixtures kicking off at the same time, Liverpool will be playing Wolves at home.

    Even if Villa hold City to a draw at their home, it could be enough to mean Liverpool win the title and remain on course for the most historic achievement English football has ever seen – an unprecedented quadruple.

    But Gerrard told beIN Sports: “I don’t think you ever have to worry about integrity when you are talking to me, or any of our players or Aston Villa.

    “I don’t think that word or that question is fair because we are going to do everything we can to fight for the three points that are available.”

  • Transfer: Coutinho joins Aston Villa from Barca

    Transfer: Coutinho joins Aston Villa from Barca

    Aston Villa have agreed a deal to bring in former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season.

    According to BBC, the deal which is subject to a medical and a work permit being granted, includes an option to buy the 29-year-old Brazil international.

    Coutinho joined Barcelona in a £142m move from Liverpool in January 2018.

    However, he has not had the expected impact and Barca are keen to move him on to lighten their wage bill.

    Arsenal, Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham were also linked with a move for Coutinho.

    The playmaker, who has scored 26 goals in 106 appearances for the Catalans, has 18 months to run on his Nou Camp contract, which expires at the end of the 2022-23 season.

    His move reunites him with Villa manager Steven Gerrard, who was his captain at Liverpool.

    Gerrard, who described his former team-mate as a “special footballer” on Thursday, and Coutinho were key parts of the Liverpool side who fell just short of winning the Premier League title in 2014.

    Coutinho scored 41 Premier League in 152 appearances for Liverpool, who he joined in a £8.5m move from Inter Milan in January 2013.

  • 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.”

  • 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.