Steven Gerrard denies claim Aston Villa will face Man City in title decider

The former Liverpool captain could still play a big part in the Reds’ title hopes ahead of Aston Villa taking on leaders Manchester City on the final day of the Premier League

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Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard has dismissed proposals for his side’s final Premier League games against Burnley and Manchester City.

Each game is huge for very different reasons, with Burnley struggling to survive in the division while City need to win on the final day to clinch their fourth Premier League title in five seasons. However, Gerrard has dismissed suggestions that the games are bigger for the opposition than for his side.

Villa has endured an overwhelming campaign and they are languishing in 14 ^th place in the Premier League with just two wins in their last nine games. Both victories – against Norwich and Burnley – were against sides currently in the relegation zone.

While the Midlands club are not involved in the relegation battle this season and there is little doubt Gerrard will be in his position next season, he dismissed suggestions that those games were not significant for the club.

When asked in his pre-game press conference if those games weren’t as important to Villa as they were to the opposition, he replied: ‘No, they aren’t. Maybe that’s true from their point of view, but I’m not involved in a relegation battle or a title race, I’m the manager of Aston Villa and those are both games where we can get three important points. We’re going to have a full house and we’ve got 20,000 fans on a waiting list to watch us. It’s my responsibility to win both games.”

Speaking specifically about the different challenge in both games, the Villa manager continued: “We’re always learning, we’re learning more about these players every day. It’s important for us to focus on ourselves and end the season as strong as possible with two positive results. We have to try to improve our position in the league.”

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Gerrard added: “The two games are obviously different challenges against teams at opposite ends of the league table. We have to prepare as well as we can for both games and know that they will take place in a short time.

“All my players have to be ready as I will be very surprised if my team is the same for each of these games.”

Villa host Burnley on Thursday night before traveling to Manchester City just three days later on the final day of the campaign. Pep Guardiola’s side need three points to clinch the title ahead of Liverpool, who host Wolves at Anfield.