---
title: "Gerrard has decision to make amid Watkins fallout rumours"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2022/08/13/steven-gerrard-has-decision-to-make-amid-ollie-watkins-fallout-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-08-13T05:30:00Z"
modified: "2022-08-13T05:30:00Z"
---

# Gerrard has decision to make amid Watkins fallout rumours

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](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1640676/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2022-2023-Bournemouth-Aston-Villa) 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](https://www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-watkins-sources/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1660117579) to have fallen out with his manager.

> 🚨 EXCLUSIVE! 🚨\
> \
> – Aston Villa are willing to sell Ollie Watkins in final weeks of the window. 💥\
> \
> – We're told £33m star has a 'tense' relationship with Gerrard. ⚠️[https://t.co/amOh5mKVmo](https://t.co/amOh5mKVmo)[#avfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/avfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/XcRwf5HZJ3](https://t.co/XcRwf5HZJ3)
>
> — Football Insider (@footyinsider247) [August 10, 2022](https://twitter.com/footyinsider247/status/1557271958538125312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

*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](https://twitter.com/tommyjordanav/status/1557286533228552193?s=20&t=SgGKjcVtECug5EU9rWZihg), calling them ‘nonsense’.

> Absolute nonsense from this outlet once again. [https://t.co/SbN4rU3YTC](https://t.co/SbN4rU3YTC)
>
> — Tommy Jordan (@tommyjordanav) [August 10, 2022](https://twitter.com/tommyjordanav/status/1557286533228552193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Watkins was Gerrard’s first-choice striker [last season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/leistungsdaten/verein/405/plus/0?reldata=%262021) 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](https://readastonvilla.com/2022/08/12/gabby-agbonlahor-understands-steven-gerrards-decision-to-drop-tyrone-mings/)***