Steven Gerrard's huge Aston Villa change could have arrived at the perfect time

Steven Gerrard made a key change in the win versus Brighton which could be extremely useful in this weekend's clash against Southampton.

Throughout the disappointing run of fixtures against Leeds United, Newcastle United and Watford, the Aston Villa full-backs were usually positioned extremely high up the pitch.

In the game against Graham Potter's Brighton side, Gerrard instructed both Lucas Digne and Matty Cash to remain much deeper and in doing so Villa looked a more solid outfit and due to the players being closer to Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martinez, building up from the back was much easier.

This is a tactical change that could have arrived at the perfect time for this Villa side as they prepare to face Southampton this weekend.

Southampton are known for their ability to pressure their opponents in their own half and they reap the rewards after doing so. A high turnover can be described as a change in possession which is 40 metres or less from the opponent's goal and can be used as a measure of the pressure a team applies as their opponents aim to build up from the back.

Southampton have recorded 232 high turnovers and 45 of them have led to shots on goal, which is the second most in the Premier League. They also rank third in the league for pressures in midfield and fourth in their overall success rate when doing so.

The likes of Che Adams, James Ward-Prowse, Armando Broja, Stuart Armstrong and Mohamed Elyounoussi will apply an immense amount of pressure to the likes of Mings, Douglas Luiz and other players for Villa that pick the ball up in their own half.

The likes of Cash and Digne being available and close to these players to receive the ball and alleviate pressure will be key if Villa are to