Konsa double adds to Gerrard’s excellent start with Liverpool next
Leicester City Barnes 14
Att: 41,572
Steven Gerrard already appears a shrewd appointment by Aston Villa and the feel-good factor around this new chapter in his career is tangible.
Gerrard’s start to Premier League management is gathering real momentum and this latest victory, over Brendan Rodgers, his former manager at Liverpool, moved Villa above Leicester and into the Premier League top 10.
While Leicester’s season is threatening to unravel because of their defensive frailties, Gerrard has made a genuine statement of intent since quitting Rangers last month.
This was the first time this season Villa had won after going behind, and he now has three victories from four matches ahead of his emotional return to Liverpool this Saturday.
“Taking nine points from 12 is a big start for us, and I’d have taken that before a ball was kicked, but there’s loads of work still to do,” Gerrard said.
“We’ve come in on the back of five successive defeats but the reaction of the players has been excellent across the board.
“There are some teething problems but I believe we can still get better,” he added.
“Liverpool next week is one for me to deal with in terms of my emotions, and I won’t make it about me. I just need to get the players ready and go there with confidence.”
In front of England manager Gareth Southgate, centre-half Ezri Konsa produced an excellent performance and scored both Villa’s goals in a breathless encounter.
There were other fine displays, from midfielders John Mcginn and Marvelous Nakamba and forward Ollie Watkins, so Gerrard has clearly inspired a reaction from the team.
Leicester’s season is in danger of going in another direction. Rodgers has not seen his team secure a clean sheet in the league since the opening day and their inability to defend set-pieces is a huge concern.
They did take the lead through Harvey Barnes but it was a difficult match for Leicester, who now face a crucial Europa League group decider against Napoli on Thursday. Rodgers said: “I’m very frustrated because we played well in the first half but our Achilles heel is defending at set-pieces. It can sap the confidence out of the team.
“We put a lot of analysis and work into it but you have to do your job. We lose our concentration and Konsa scores the second goal.
“These are undoing good parts of our game and it’s something we have to fix or the fine margins will go against us.
“Even when we’ve won this season we’ve made [defensive] mistakes,” he admitted.
Leicester did start impressively, with Jamie Vardy dropped to the bench for “squad rotation”, and his replacement, Patson Daka, provided the assist for the opening goal.
Daka appeared to have lost possession 30 yards from goal but recovered the ball to release Barnes inside the Leicester penalty area. Barnes took one touch and then side-footed his shot through Konsa’s legs into the far corner.
Villa had started poorly but equalised 170 seconds later, when the visitors failed to clear a Douglas Luiz free-kick. Matty Cash headed the ball back into the danger area and
Emi Buendia was left alone to beat Kasper Schmeichel. Konsa claimed the last touch, brushing the ball over the line with his studs.
The game then became increasingly frantic when Jacob Ramsey appeared to score a second goal for Villa in added time, converting from close range after Schmeichel spilled the ball.
Yet the goal was overruled after a Var check, with referee Michael Oliver concluding that Schmeichel was in control of the ball, even though he had only one hand on it.
With mutiny in the air, Villa were now inspired and took the lead in the 54th minute when Konsa rose to head in Mcginn’s corner.
Rodgers introduced Vardy with 25 minutes left, but Villa were still creating chances, with Schmeichel producing a fine save from Watkins and Ramsey lifting the ball over from a decent position.
Barnes was denied a second goal by an outstanding save from Emiliano Martinez, the Villa goalkeeper diving to tip the ball over the bar.
Five minutes of added time cranked up the tension, with Schmeichel venturing forward for a late corner, but Gerrard’s side stood firm for the win.