Steven Gerrard and the Liverpool torment behind his Aston Villa sacking after former Rangers boss left CEO no choice

Steven Gerrard's sacking at Aston Villa was made harder for CEO Christian Purslow due to their connection at Liverpool.

The Villans chief was a factor in the Anfield legend leaving his post as Rangers boss in November 2021 for a first crack at a Premier League manager's job. But he lasted less than a year and since his departure, Unai Emery has guided the club to the brink of European football for next season.

Gerrard won just 12 of his 38 games and Purslow, who served as Liverpool's chief executive between June 2009 and October 2010, was tasked with giving his old Reds ally his marching orders. And he tells Sky News that his relationship from the Merseyside club made it a painful experience to axe Rangers' 2021 title-winning boss. He said: "I supported Liverpool. I was a third generation - my grandparents and my father were from Liverpool and Liverpool fans. And so, like many, many football fans in the country, one grows up as a kid, following in your dad's footsteps.

"Yes, it was [a difficult decision]. It was very tough. He's a very good person I've known for a long time. When I was at Liverpool, he was the captain of the club.

"But, my priority is Aston Villa, and doing the right thing for our club, and it hadn’t worked out. Steven would be the first to admit that.

"You have to do the right thing. The board thought about things. I think we let things ride for a while and then made that tough decision and moved on."