Buying Philippe Coutinho haunted him, he spent big but had no balance, football was BORING and standards dropped after Michael Beale quit: How Steven Gerrard went from 'Klopp's successor' to the sack at Aston Villa

Christian Purslow was crystal clear as he presented new Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard to the assembled media in the Holte Suite at Villa Park on November 18, 2021.

'What we expect and what Steven has promised to deliver is continuous improvement in our team and I'm certain he will do that,' thundered the chief executive. No wonder Gerrard shifted in his seat as Purslow delivered the words. Back then, he was asked whether he saw Villa as a staging post on his route to the Liverpool job. That question has not been put to him for a little while.