Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard can deal with Liverpool pressure – Danny Murphy
Steven Gerrard’s former teammate Danny Murphy has insisted that the Aston Villa boss can take the Liverpool pressure “on the chin” ahead of the last day of the season.
The Lions take on Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon as they eye a top ten finish in the Premier League.
The Villans boss’ Anfield connection is another reason why he will want to get the one up on Pep Guardiola but Murphy believes he can detach himself from his Merseyside emotions.
He wrote in his Daily Mail column: “I’m sure Steven Gerrard has been pestered all week by calls from his friends, his Dad, his brother, all reminding him he has to beat Manchester City on Sunday.
“That’s OK, Stevie is a big boy. He’s never been one to hide or turn his phone off, he’ll take it on the chin and of course, he’ll understand it being a big Red himself, but it won’t make him lose focus or deviate from the game plan he’s set out for the Etihad.
“He’ll know better than anyone what Sunday means for Liverpool as a city and its supporters. I am sure he’d prefer to be playing City so he can do his old club a favour rather than having Villa go to Anfield.
“As a manager, Stevie has been good at detaching himself from emotional stuff that he can’t control. So he might have had a joke or two with his pals from Merseyside but closer to match day, his energy will be on making sure his team is set out at right because you’ve got to be cute and clever against City.”
Win-win.
Of course, the main thing for Aston Villa is that Gerrard’s head is completely in their camp but this situation is a little bit different.
Everyone knows that the former England international is a very professional person. When the Lions have played Liverpool on two occasions this season he hasn’t shown a glimpse of bias towards his old beloved club but that is exactly what you would expect.
He and the players will be desperate to win this one for their own personal targets and if his desire to help the Reds win the league helps that then so be it – nobody would care as long as Villa win.
Despite it being very unlikely with the number of results that need to go their way – a win against Guardiola’s side could mean a top ten finish this season and that would be huge considering where they were before sacking Dean Smith.
Hopefully, they finish the season on a high and if that helps Gerrard’s former club and makes him a very happy man – so be it.
In other Aston Villa news, Gerrard has been handed a £9million incentive to help Liverpool win the league.