Aston Villa welcome Everton to Villa Park on Saturday afternoon and Steven Gerrard has a difficult decision to make in attack. Danny Ings underwhelmed in Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth on August 6 and was replaced by Ollie Watkins in the second half, so Gerrard might consider starting the latter against Everton.
Ings had one shot on target and created one chance in his 65 minutes at Dean Court, but he didn’t see a lot of the ball overall, was dispossessed three times and was guilty of indiscipline. Watkins’ potential selection may hinge on how his relationship is with Gerrard, however, as the 26-year-old was rumoured to have fallen out with his manager.
Football Insider claimed days ago that Watkins and Gerrard had a tense relationship that could see the former being put up for sale before the summer transfer window closed, but Villa’s Communications Director Tommy Jordan blasted the rumours on social media, calling them ‘nonsense’.
Watkins was Gerrard’s first-choice striker last season and scored 11 goals to Ings’ seven in all competitions, so he would normally start games. It was a surprise to see him on the bench against Bournemouth, but time will tell if Gerrard’s recalls him against the Toffees.
In other news, Gabriel Agbonlahor ‘understands’ Steven Gerrard’s decision to drop Tyrone Mings
