Liverpool were a worthy winner as Steven Gerrard brought his side from Aston Villa to Anfield, with Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty making the difference between the teams that day.

Gerrard was unhappy his side didn’t win a penalty when Alisson Becker threw up a desperate challenge late in the game, but Diogo Jota could have made it more comfortable for the Reds with great luck.

In a real one-game battle, the good team picked up all three points, although Aston Villa was very impressive nonetheless.

These are the four things Liverpool.com have learned about Gerrard and his coaching career so far since that game.

Tactical change

Few Liverpool fans would have expected Gerrard to set up his defensive structure at Aston Villa as quickly as he did, but the block of players stopping the Reds’ route to goal was put together impressively in such a short time. time.

This defensive approach was one that Gerrard suggested after the game that he would like to get away from as soon as possible, but so far it was the only way Aston Villa could get anything out of the game.

He was very Jose mourinho – as was the dark arts led by Ashley Young – but it seems like this is a piece he can put together, but might not want in the long run.

Jürgen Klopp respects

Pre-match, both Jürgen Klopp and Steven Gerrard were keen to keep the focus as much as possible on the pitch, but that was never going to be the case for long. – at least outside the 90 minutes.

When Gerrard came out of the tunnel he received a warm applause and his name was sung full time as well – as Klopp and Virgil van Dijk both said: fully deserved.

In the game, however, there was only one time that a rendition of Gerrard’s song attempted to erupt and this was quickly drowned out when attention returned to the task at hand.

It helped that the game was so close and so well fought. Perhaps if Liverpool had been three or four things would have been different, but respect for Gerrard was kept to a minimum as much as possible while the game was going on.

Rafa Benitez nods

Before the game, there was a lot of talk that Gerrard had placed his Rangers squad the same way Klopp did, with a 4-3-3 system in place, with a lot of emphasis on his full-backs for creativity and a functional midfield.

This remains true, but it was a formation more out of the school of thought of Rafa Benitez, with a 4-3-3 becoming more of a 4-5-1, with Ollie Watkins left alone against Van Dijk and Joël Matip. .

Gerrard can do both the defensive and the offensive game plan, and against teams smaller than Liverpool his more adventurous side will emerge.

Having Champions League experience will be something big when Liverpool pick their next manager.

Aston Villa is unlikely to give him that platform even if he continues to do well, but games against the bigger teams, especially away, will be a similar challenge to a European game.

So far, Gerrard has narrowly lost to Man City and Liverpool and has won all of his other matches. It’s a good start.

Young people trust

One of the great advantages of Klopp’s time as Liverpool boss has been his use of the Academy’s top talent like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Elliott and countless others.

Gerrard clearly wants to work in the same direction, where he is maybe a little different from Mourinho and to some extent from Benitez as well.

Jacob Ramsey (20) was among the starters at Anfield when experienced Emi Buendía and Morgan Sanson were among the substitutes, while Gerrard was quick to implement Carney Chukwuemeka, 18, who remained on the bench in this one.

There are experienced players like Young and John McGinn mixed with young talent – the perfect mix.