Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard says he is happy to sacrifice his popularity at Anfield for a positive result for his side when they face Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Liverpool great returns to Anfield for the first time as a coach with his Villa side looking for their fourth win in five league matches.
Gerrard, who took charge at Villa early last month, won numerous trophies in 17 years at boyhood side Liverpool but said he was not placing any special importance on returning to the ground where he made his name.
“I really respect and understand all the noise around the game for obvious reasons,” Gerrard told a news conference on Friday.
“The noise is for other people to get excited about. For me, it’s about preparing the team in the best way I can, to try and get a positive result for Aston Villa. For everyone else, it’s a massive occasion. For me, it’s three points, it’s a big game of football and it’s 90 minutes that we need to focus on.
“If I’m on the bus, heading back down the M6 towards Birmingham and I’m not the most popular at Anfield, so be it.” The 41-year-old has made quite the impression since arriving at Villa Park, leading the struggling side up to 10th in the league standings with 19 points from 15 games.
Praise for Wolves
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola lavished praise on weekend opponents Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday, saying the midlands club always provided his side with a tough game.
The league leaders welcome Wolves to the Etihad early on Saturday, looking for their sixth win in succession. They top the standings on 35 points, one ahead of Liverpool and two ahead of Chelsea.
However, Wolves have been stealthily putting in some decent performances this season, climbing to eighth in the table and only lost last weekend to Liverpool after a stoppage-time strike from Divock Origi.Guardiola, who was named the league’s Manager of the Month for the 10th time on Friday, said Bruno Lage’s side would be no pushovers.
“They scored 12 goals and conceded 13 and are so stable. They played more between the lines last season, it was always tough in the last years when we faced Wolves and tomorrow (Saturday) will be no exception,” Guardiola told a news conference.
“When you have played 15 games and you can take a look at goals scored, goals conceded — their balance is stable, few on both sides. Always when we face Wolves it has been a tight game. They have structure, pace up front and good character.”
Ralf speaks to Pogba
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick said on Friday he has spoken to midfielder Paul Pogba and that the Frenchman was due to recover from injury in the next month.
Pogba, who is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave United on a free transfer, has been out since early November with a thigh injury and has spent time rehabilitating in Dubai.
However, the 28-year-old midfielder could yet become a part of Rangnick’s plans at United as the German looks to revitalise the sixth-placed side since taking over last week. “We spoke over the phone on Tuesday. He was still in Dubai and we get to know each other in person on Sunday,” Rangnick told a news conference ahead of the trip to Norwich City.
