Why Steven Gerrard screamed at Douglas Luiz as Aston Villa rue missed transfer opportunity

A furious Steven Gerrard labelled his side's sorry defeat at Newcastle as the worst performance since he took the job on back in November.

In truth, Villa were shocking from start to finish at St James' Park with Gerrard telling to expect wholesale changes in terms of personnel for Villa's next match with Watford in six days' time.

It was Kieran Trippier who bagged the winner with a first-half free-kick, while Ollie Watkins had one chalked out for offside following a lengthy VAR check.

Here, Villa writer Ashley Preece picks apart the big talking points after what was a sorry showing on Tyneside.

We'll start with Gerrard's most-telling comments post-match, outlining how there will be plenty of changes to Villa's starting XI next week.

"I need to think hard and to analyse this performance in closer detail," Gerrard said. "I believe there will be changes to the team. That's only normal after a performance like that and everyone needs to be ready next week."

Clutching at straws, the boss did commend Calum Chambers, Tyrone Mings and Philippe Coutinho afterwards, and said: "We've certainly taken steps back. I can't think of many positives today, our two centre-halves held us together and Phil did everything he could to get us back in the game."

The likes of Matty Cash, John McGinn, Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz - amongst others - could well be out of the Villa side against Watford with Morgan Sanson, Ashley Young, Leon Bailey, Danny Ings and Carney Chukwuemeka all poised to come in.

Gerrard was fuming afterwards and he let his players know about it.

To a moment within the first-half and, just prior to Trippier's winner, it was Watkins who was man-handled and outmuscled by Dan Burn. Villa attempted to get up the pitch after