Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea: Five things learned as Mason Mount puts Gerrard on brink of sack | Football | Sport
Gerrard out of time
Seven defeats out of 10 and with chants of “Sacked in the morning, you’re getting sacked in the morning” ringing around the stadium, time has surely run out for Gerrard to save his job after nearly a year in charge at Aston Villa.
With a talented squad, it is fair to say the Liverpool legend has struggled to find the best way of getting them firing, although on this display he must be wondering how his side didn’t score.
Had it not been for some fine saves from Arrizabalaga, his side would have been in front and the story may be a different one entirely. But with Villa down in 16th position and showing no signs of improving their results, the 42-year-old can have no complaints if he is axed by the club’s hierarchy on Monday morning.
Blundering Mings fails in Southgate audition
Gareth Southgate was spotted looking suitably amused by the TV cameras before the game started at Villa Park as he took his seat in the director’s box. But what he saw from Mings, a centre-back he has brought through to the national team, just six minutes later was no laughing matter.
The 28-year-old would have been keen to put in a solid display at the back to prove his worth with England’s 26-man World Cup squad due to be announced on November 8. Instead, this performance only proved the centre-back should be nowhere near the starting XI.
He looked nervous and unsure of his own ability after making his huge error early on and while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a quiet afternoon, that was hardly down to Mings’ work. With Eric Dier, Harry Maguire and John Stones all fit, he seems to have lost his battle to convince Southgate he can still do a job at international level.
