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'We've a lot to work on but I'm happy so far' | Gerrard on another Villa win

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard says he is overall pleased with his side but also that they ha...
98FM
98FM

20.31 5 Dec 2021


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'We've a lot to work on but I'...

'We've a lot to work on but I'm happy so far' | Gerrard on another Villa win

98FM
98FM

20.31 5 Dec 2021


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Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard says he is overall pleased with his side but also that they have much to work on. 

Three wins from their first four games since he took over have seen them go into the top half of the Premier League table.

Ezri Konsa scored twice as they came from behind to beat Leicester City 2-1 at Villa Park on Sunday.

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Speaking to Sky Sports at full-time Gerrard said he was happy with the second-half.

"It was a tough game and obviously it went right to the wire.

"I thought you could see two sides to us today. [In the] second half we were outstanding, started winning our duels, winning the second ball, started to compete better.

"But in the first 45 we gave the ball away too much, we were too open and Leicester caused us too many problems on the transition.

"So there's a lot for us to look at as well.

"I thought Leicester started really well. I think that was a combination of them having good players and having dangerous players going forward but also I thought we were passive in too many areas of the pitch.

"When we were making passes there were loads of sloppy turnovers when we were vulnerable and when we were open.

"I wasn't happy with our first-half performance at all so we had to give them a few home truths at half-time and the reaction they gave in the second-half was much more like what we want."

The win means Villa are 10th in the table and look a different side to the one prior to Dean Smith's sacking just last month.

Gerrard says he's pleased in the main with what they're doing, but there is still a lot of work to do.

"If we can find the second half performance over 90 minutes we'll be in a great position.

"We've still got loads of teething problems.

"We'll review the first four games but to take nine points from 12 is a big return from the players so they deserve a lot of credit for that but there is still loads of work to do on the training ground.

"A few [players] are still not sure and committing properly to what we want; just because they're not sure and it's a little bit different for them.

"We've got a full week now until Liverpool, we can get back on the training pitch and iron a few teething problems out and hopefully be better come next week."

And it is Liverpool, the club's former captain Gerrard must now prepare for.

He'll take Villa to Anfield on Saturday as the Reds continue to their title challenge.

They sit second in the table and it promises to be a massive occasion but Gerrard says there can be no room for sentiment.

"I just want to go there and try and win and try and take what we can.

"For us, we're not competing with Liverpool in terms of the level we're both at at the moment, but we'll certainly go there and give everything we've got.

"We go there with confidence and belief with three wins out of four and we'll go try and make it as difficult as we can."


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