"Utter Rubbish" - Liverpool Legend Slams Bizarre Steven Gerrard Conspiracy

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has slammed critics of his ex-teammate Steven Gerrard who claim he is using his job at Aston Villa as a stepping stone to managing Liverpool

The ex-Rangers boss joined Villa in November last year, and after a promising start he led his side to an underwhelming 14th placed finish.

He was backed heavily in the transfer window both in January and this summer, with high-profile names like Lucas Digne, Philippe Coutinho and Diego Carlos joining the project at Bodymoor Heath.

Fowler, who played with Gerrard in two spells at Anfield, thinks Villa have got themselves a top coach who will only want the best for the club.

"Steven Gerrard knows that whenever he loses a game, some Aston Villa fans will maintain he isn’t entirely focused and has the Liverpool job on his mind,” Fowler wrote in his column for the Mirror.

"It’s an easy stick to beat him over the head with – but I can tell you straight that’s a load of nonsense.

"His priority is Aston Villa. He’s there to do that job and that’s the only thing on his mind."

"It’s other people who ­mention Liverpool. Gerrard is embarrassed by it because, for him, it’s Aston Villa every hour of the day."

"The only progression he is interested in is being the best manager he can possibly be. He’s got that attitude, that desire to be successful. Those attributes are as strong now as when he was a player and look where that took him.

"When results don’t go your way of course there is going to be discontent. He won’t be content with losing games either. It ­probably kills him more than it kills the fans.

"That’s the type of manager you want – someone who ­really cares, and Steven does. He’s high profile and the spotlight is going to be on him more than some others.

"The problem is that if he does lose a few games – and it’s the same now with most managers as the patience of supporters seems to be more and more in short supply – it’s ‘Oh he’s not really bothered because he’s using Villa as a stepping stone to taking over from Jurgen Klopp’. That’s utter rubbish."

Gerrard has had mixed results in pre-season with his new squad, and now travel to newly promoted Bournemouth on Saturday to begin a crucial campaign in his managerial career.