Four Aston Villa problems Steven Gerrard must solve after break - and intriguing sub-plot

Aston Villa return to action after a two-week break when they make the short trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
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Steven Gerrard’s men currently lie in ninth place in the Premier League table and it seems increasingly likely a mid-table finish will be the best they can achieve this season.

This will not be seen as a success for the Aston Villa boss, despite the fact his side were sat just two points above the relegation zone when he was named as Dean Smith’s successor in November.

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Villa have eight games remaining with a home double-header against Spurs and Liverpool following the visit to Wolves.

Away days at Leicester City and Burnley and two home games against Norwich City and Crystal Palace remain on the agenda before Gerrard takes his side to Manchester City on the final day of the season.

But what are Gerrard’s priorities for the remainder of the campaign and what big decisions lie in wait?

Birmingham World takes a look…

Improve the home form

Villa could have been looking at an unlikely late push for a European place if their recent home form had not been so underwhelming.

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A Bukayo Saka goal was enough to give Arsenal all three points in Villa’s last home game and the 4-0 win against Southampton that preceded that loss remains their only maximum in their last six Villa Park fixtures.

Of course, things won’t get any easier with title contenders Liverpool and top-four challengers Spurs next up in B6 - but with winnable home games against Norwich City and Crystal Palace rounding off the home fixtures, Gerrard will hope his side can end the season on a high in front of their own supporters.

Contract decisions to make on key players

Ashley Young is the only only senior player that will see his current deal expire at the end of the season and his future remains very much up in the air.

MESSAGE: From Aston Villa's Ashley Young, above, for Leeds United's fans. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.MESSAGE: From Aston Villa's Ashley Young, above, for Leeds United's fans. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.
MESSAGE: From Aston Villa's Ashley Young, above, for Leeds United's fans. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

Progress on talks was reported earlier this month and Gerrard confirmed he wants his former England team-mate to extend his second spell at the club by a further year.

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However, the Villa boss also stated there was “a lot to discuss” and the deal remains unsigned.

Loan duo Robin Olsen and Philippe Coutinho will see their temporary deals come to an end in June - but Gerrard remains keen to make both players permanent fixtures in his squad.

One intriguing aspect of the coming weeks and months is key midfielder Douglas Luiz.

The Brazilian will enter the final months of his current deal this summer and has been linked with a move away from Villa Park.

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Gerrard retains an interest in Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, who would be seen as a direct replacement for the Brazilian.

A big decision could lie in wait.

Assess other options in his squad ahead of his first summer in charge

Given that he was only appointed in November, Gerrard is still working with what is essentially another manager’s squad.

Although the Liverpool legend was able to add Lucas Digne, Robin Olsen and Philippe Coutinho to his ranks in January, Gerrard will hope to put his own print on the squad this summer.

Links with the likes of Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips and Brighton’s Yves Bissouma hint that Gerrard sees strengthening his midfield as a priority but it seems likely he will try and improve his defensive and striker ranks over the close-season.

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That means current squad members in both areas will have to impress their manager over the coming weeks as they look to solidify their place in his squad next season.

Do his former a club a favour in the title race

There is absolutely no doubt that Gerrard’s focus is on his job at Villa and Villa alone.

But there is an intriguing sub-plot on the horizon that could throw the Villa boss into the heart of the Premier League title race.

It seems highly likely the battle between Liverpool and Manchester City could go to the final day of the season with neither side showing any signs of blinking in an increasingly intriguing contest.

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Villa will be the visitors to the Etihad on the final day of the season as Gerrard’s former club Liverpool host Wolves at Anfield.

What price Gerrard doing his old club a favour by springing a surprise in the final hours of the season?

Secure a top-half finish - and a financial boost!

Momentum - as the cliche says - is key in football and Gerrard will want to take plenty of that into his first summer in charge of Villa.

Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace and Tyrone Mings of Aston Villa clash during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace at Villa Park on December 26, 2020Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace and Tyrone Mings of Aston Villa clash during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace at Villa Park on December 26, 2020
Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace and Tyrone Mings of Aston Villa clash during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace at Villa Park on December 26, 2020

With a ten-point deficit to make up on Wolves and a further two to seventh-placed West Ham United, a European push is all but impossible.

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Gerrard will have to settle for more modest targets and that could mean setting the challenge of ending the campaign in the top ten of the Premier League table.

Leicester City, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Brighton all like within striking distance of ninth-placed Villa - and with significant prize money on offer for a higher finish, Gerrard will hope to secure a financial boost with a top-half finish.

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