‘We are two rivals’: Steven Gerrard makes claim about Aston Villa & Leeds next season

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Steven Gerrard has claimed that Aston Villa and Leeds United are ‘two rivals’ heading into the new Premier League season, as he told Villa TV.

The legendary midfielder added that he expects both Villa and Leeds to be ‘fighting’ for similar positions when the new Premier League campaign kicks off in August.

Last season, both Gerrard and Jesse Marsch replaced two popular managers in the dugout – Dean Smith and Marcelo Bielsa.

Both were sacked by their respective clubs, but despite those calls, they remain high in the thoughts of supporters after winning promotion back to England’s top-flight.

Nonetheless, this is what Gerrard had to say about Leeds, their qualities as a team and Marsch as a coach.

“Two Premier League teams going head-to-head at the same stage of the season,” said Gerrard. “We are two rivals in the Premier League.

“We are going to be fighting for a position in that league once it starts – They have got a lot of speed, a lot of excitement in the front positions of their team, they are a counter-pressing team and they look to counter-press you from a central point of view. Try and steal the ball back as quick as they can. They are a strong team.

“Their manager has got big experience being around the Red Bull model, I think he’s trying to implement a lot of ideas from that. We have full respect for Leeds and had two really good challenges against them last season.”

WHO WILL FINISH HIGHER?

Villa have gone through the summer where they lost a key figure – Jack Grealish – and they then had to recover.

Those in Yorkshire are going to face that prospect after Kalvin Phillips joined Manchester City and Raphinha got his dream move to Barcelona.

Just like Villa last season, those in the Elland Road boardroom have been pro-active in the transfer market and they haven’t hesitated in adding much-needed quality and depth to the squad.

Understandably so, Marsch has dipped into the market and added players he knows very well, so, from that perspective, he already knows what he is working with.

But can the American help Leeds finish about Villa next season? The Midlands side will feel they have the better platform, but one thing is for sure, a top ten finish would be progression for either side.