Paul Merson has stated that there is no way Steven Gerrard will want to send ’40,000’ Aston Villa fans away from the ground against Burnley with a defeat to their name.
It won’t just be Aston Villa cheering on their own team on Thursday night, but those of Leeds United also.
Leeds are currently out of the danger zone in the Premier League table heading into the final game week of the season.
But Burnley, who play their game in hand at Villa Park on Thursday night, can move above them with at least a point.
If they lose, then it will be in Leeds’ hand on Sunday and they will then know a win at Brentford and they are safe.
Either way, Merson’s comments about an expectant Villa Park should be music to Leeds’ ears, as he told Sky Sports.
“If I had to pick which camp I’d rather be in out of the relegation candidates, it’d be Leeds because of that point against Brighton – one that I think will keep them up,” said Merson.
“On Thursday, Burnley go to Aston Villa who are playing their last home game of the season. You’ve got to give the fans optimism on the last home game so Villa will be the biggest triers in the world on Thursday night.
“Steven Gerrard will not want 40,000 people leaving that ground with the attitude of next season.
“He will want to send those fans away with the feeling that they’ll buy a new season ticket with the thought of Gerrard turning things around. That only happens if they beat Burnley.
“I don’t expect Burnley to get anything at Aston Villa, so it will be completely out of their hands with one game to go.”
VILLA FANS WON’T ALLOW PLAYERS TO HAVE THEIR FLIP-FLOPS ON
As a Villa season ticket-holder, there is no way the home fans are going to allow the team to settle for anything than a win.
It’s the final home game of the season, on the back end of an average season, and fans will want to leave on a high.
Plus, at the end of the game, the players will parade around the pitch with their families, so you don’t want to be doing that on the back of a loss.
Either way, Burnley will have to unlock some of their old tools in order to win at Villa Park because this is going to be a difficult one for them.
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