Why the knives are being sharpened for Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa: The loss of his trusted No 2 was a huge blow, a change in transfer strategy has been risky and his bitter fallout with Tyrone Mings has raised eyebrows

Steven Gerrard is under growing pressure at Aston Villa following a difficult start to the season that has seen them lose three of their opening four matches.

The 42-year-old has endured a tough start to the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, as Villans sitting 15th in the table with just three points to their name.

And after Gerrard was booed off after Sunday’s home defeat by West Ham, Sportsmail has looked at the issues that have thrust his future into the spotlight.

MISSING THE BRAINS

The loss of trusted assistant Michael Beale, who took the manager’s job at QPR over the summer, was a huge blow.