'Forget Liverpool' - Steven Gerrard theory slammed as Aston Villa prepare for Man City

Steven Gerrard will not be concerned about Liverpool's fortunes when Aston Villa take on Manchester City this weekend in a game that could have huge ramifications on the destination of the Premier League title.

That's according to former Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who does not believe the team will be on the beach ahead of the last two games of the season. They host Burnley on Thursday night ahead of Sunday's trip to Manchester.

It's been suggested that Gerrard has extra motivation to win at Eastlands as that would help his boyhood club claim a second title win in three seasons. It's also been suggested that the ex-Red would have few qualms about losing to Burnley given it could help relegate old foes Everton.

None of that will be on the manager's mind in either game, though, as Agbonlahor believes that Gerrard is only concerned with improving his team and getting them further up the Premier League table, as mid-table is "not acceptable". He also posited that Villa have "underperformed" since the Liverpudlian succeeded Dean Smith in the job.

"Forget being one of Liverpool's best ever players and he loves Liverpool. Forget about trying to stop Man City winning the league," Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.

"He wants his team to improve in every game. They've been poor this season, to the standards that he'd want. He said it there when he spoke, they have underperformed.

"He's not looking at these two games as 'I want to help any team'. He's looking at them as 'I want to get six points' to get them further up the table and keep improving next season.

"He knows the owners have invested money. They're going to invest money in the summer. Being mid-table is not acceptable, they want to get into the top six."