Gerrard axes £34k-p/w dud, "outstanding" wonderkid starts, Villa predicted XI today – opinion

Steven Gerrard can take a big step closer to the top half of the Premier League by leading Aston Villa to a win against Crystal Palace today.

Both teams have enjoyed slight resurgences of late and come into the match in decent form, although Villa suffered defeat against Liverpool in midweek.

Gerrard could be considering some changes to his starting XI following that defeat, with the aim of securing all three points against Palace.

With that in mind, how might the 41-year-old set up his Villa team today?

Martinez – Cash, Mings, Konsa, Digne – Luiz, Chukwuemeka, McGinn – Coutinho, Buendia – Ings

In goal, Emiliano Martinez will surely start and will be hoping to register his 12th clean sheet of the campaign.

The back four will likely be unchanged from the defeat to Liverpool, with Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa partnering each other at the heart of defence, while Matty Cash and Lucas Digne feature on the right and left respectively.

The midfield three could see one change, with £34k-p/w dud Marvelous Nakamba – one of Villa’s worst performers against Liverpool – being axed for the 18-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka, who Paul Merson described as “outstanding” following his top-flight debut last August. John McGinn and Douglas Luiz will likely keep their places from midweek.

Going forward, Philippe Coutinho will once again operate in the space between midfield and attack, where he can cause so much damage to the opposition. The injury that Watkins sustained against Liverpool could see Gerrard go with a 4-3-2-1 against Palace, with Emiliano Buendia starting alongside the Brazilian in attacking midfield.

This would leave Danny Ings in the lone striker role as the Villa manager makes a possible tactical tweak which will hopefully lead