Aston Villa coach Steven Gerrard has admitted that he is ready to sacrifice his hero status at Liverpool for a victory over the club on Saturday, December 11, 2021.
At 16:00 on the said date, Steven Gerrard who is the most celebrated legend at Liverpool would lead Aston Villa to play against his former club at Anfield.
To move higher on the league table, the English tactician needs to beat his former club which is still being coached by his former coach, Jurgen Klopp. A win at Anfield stadium on Saturday could take Aston Villa to the 8th spot on the league table from the 10th spot which the club is currently occupying with 19 points in 15 games.
The game between Liverpool and Aston Villa is the first opportunity Steven Gerrard has to lead a team to Anfield, a stadium he played in for over 17 years as a professional footballer.
Recall that Gerrard gained promotion to Liverpool senior team from the club’s academy in 1998. He stayed at the club until 2015 when he decided to join the Major League Soccer club, LA Galaxy for a season.
While at Liverpool, the former England international turned tactician scored over 125 goals as a midfielder in 538 appearances in all competitions.
Gerrard who is regarded as captain fantastic by most fans of Liverpool helped the Merseyside club to win two FA Cup, three league cup, one Community Shield, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup.
Due to his outstanding reign at Liverpool between 1998 and 2015, the supporters of the club have promised to give the former Rangers coach a befitting welcome back to Anfield this weekend.
However, during the pre-match press conference, Steven Gerrard promised to play down on the occasion which has been receiving a lot of media attention in the last few days.
The English tactician stressed that he is heading to Anfield with no other intention but to leave with the three maximum points to the detriment of his popularity among the club’s fans.
Gerrard said: “Everyone in that stadium will know me well enough to know what I’m about and what I’m going to Anfield for.
“I’m going back to a club where I spent many years and it brings a smile to my face for a couple of reasons.
“One, I’ve got a good relationship with a lot of people at the club. I had a fantastic time there, a really good journey, I’m a local boy. It was the team I supported growing up and I will always support that team.
“But at the same time, it brings a smile to my face because I’ve got the opportunity to go there and compete against a good team and a good manager and try to win the game. That’s my only focus.
“If I’m on the bus heading back down the M6 towards Birmingham and I’m not the most popular at Anfield, so be it.”
On the current form Liverpool, Gerrard added: “Liverpool are in a fantastic place and on top form, we’re aware of the challenge and how difficult it’s going to be.
“But we’ve got to take confidence and belief from the start that we’ve made.
“We know how difficult Anfield can but other teams have gone there with a game plan and taken something out of the game.”
🎙️ "It brings a smile to my face."
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 10, 2021
Steven Gerrard is looking forward to returning to Anfield tomorrow as #AVFC face #LFC, but insists he is fully focused on getting a positive result against his former club. pic.twitter.com/QQQG6skGWX
