Southampton manager reveals key Aston Villa change under Steven Gerrard

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has admitted to following Steven Gerrard's work at Rangers before the Aston Villa head coach's arrival last year and being impressed by the team's change in behaviour and habits.

Gerrard took over from Dean Smith following the reverse fixture before the November international break, so will be facing Hasenhuttl and Southampton for the first time at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon.

The former RB Leipzig boss has been complementary of his opposite number in the build-up to their first meeting as managers this weekend and highlighted what Gerrard was able to alter "immediately" upon taking over last autumn.

Hasenhuttl has, though, made clear that there is plenty for the 41-year-old still to learn in management.

"Yes, I followed him [Gerrard] at Rangers where he worked with our former sporting director [Ross Wilson], who often spoke about him," Hasenhuttl said at the pre-match press conference (via HampshireLive ).

"You could see his style immediately when he came to Villa and the change in behaviours and in their habits in the team.

"Maybe after the first few games, it was perhaps a more difficult period for him, but the Premier League is super tough. You have seen that you can only win games with the highest performance levels.

"He has to learn like all managers; as a footballer, he knew this with his massive career. He knows this as a player; there is still something new to learn.

"But I like that he looks hungry as a manager, and if you have had such an impressive career as a player, it maybe is not so easy to stay hungry, but this is a good fundamental for this job."

Southampton currently sit four places and five points ahead of Villa in the Premier League table and are one