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Match preview
For the first time in their managerial careers, the two England midfielders who so famously failed to play together, meet each other on the touchline.
Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have had differing starts to their management careers, with Gerrard arriving at Villa Park on the back of an impressive revival at Rangers while Lampard has had to take on the Everton job after struggling to fulfil expectations at Derby and Chelsea and remains the favourite to be sacked first this season.
Both sides were defeated on the opening day of the season, with Villa’s the more damaging after going down 2-0 to Bournemouth.
Gerrard has faced criticism over his handling of the captaincy and Tyrone Mings’ future at Villa Park, and has challenged the England international to prove he is worthy of a recall.
One of two more early defeats could see the pressure piled on Gerrard after significant summer investment which saw Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos join the club, but they still appear to be too reliant on Philippe Coutinho in attack.
They will fancy a comfortable win on Saturday however against an Everton side that suffered a nightmare opening day.
Financial backing is no stranger to Lampard however, and he needs to show that he can get the best out of a squad that looks toothless in attack with or without Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Most notably, Conor Coady should go straight into the team against Villa and provide the sort of leadership Lampard is so desperate for. Should he slot straight in, he could be one of the bargains of the season.
