Steven Gerrard has made improving Aston Villa from a defensive standpoint his top priority ahead of his debut as Villans manager after replacing Dean Smith, via the Express and Star.
The Birmingham outfit appointed Gerrard as their latest head coach last Thursday with the club 16th in the Premier League. After five-straight defeats ultimately cost Smith his job.
No side also conceded more goals over the five-game period that Aston Villa were the only club without a point. Allowing 13 goals to be scored, to just five turned in at the other end.
Aston Villa will now host Brighton at Villa Park on Saturday just two-points clear of the drop zone. While the Seagulls are flying high in seventh-place after just two defeats in 11 games.
Gerrard oversaw a tight ship at Rangers before leaving Ibrox to replace Smith at Aston Villa. The Gers have only allowed 13 goals in 13 Premiership games so far this term to 29 scored.
The 41-year-old now wants Villa to play attractive football, but must work on reducing the number of goals allowed. With defensive gains the priority for his early weeks in charge.
“I want to be as entertaining and attractive on the eye as we can be,” Gerrard said.
“But one thing I would like to instil and improve on is the structure of the team from a defensive point of view. In terms of out of possession, in terms of our shape and what we do to win the ball back.
“That is very important to me. I have obviously been lucky over the years to pick that stuff off some world-class managers.”
Can Gerrard turn Aston Villa around defensively?
Gerrard may need to improve Aston Villa across multiple areas to reduce the number of goals they are conceding.
The Birmingham outfit rank 14th of the 20 Premier League sides for the least shots allowed per game. With the Villans giving up 14.5 attempts a game so far this term, per WhoScored.
They also only rank just 17th for the number of tackles made per game with 14.1. Only Liverpool (13.5), Manchester City (13.1) and Manchester United (12.6) are making fewer.
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