Alan Shearer suggests some Aston Villa players ‘didn’t like’ Steven Gerrard

Alan Shearer thinks a few Aston Villa players ‘didn’t like’ former manager Steven Gerrard, as the team visibly played with a lot more freedom during their 4-0 thrashing against Brentford at Villa Park on Sunday.

Gerrard was axed by Villa after their humiliating 3-0 defeat by Fulham in midweek, prompting Aaron Danks to take the reigns as caretaker boss. 

A second minute goal from Leon Bailey and fast double from Danny Ings put Aston Villa 3-0 ahead as early as the 14th minute, before Ollie Watkins stretched the lead to four in the second-half to mark an exceptional start for Danks.

Alan Shearer thinks some Aston Villa players ‘didn’t like’ former head coach Steven Gerrard

Gerrard was sacked by Aston Villa in midweek after their humiliating 3-0 defeat by Fulham

Somewhat taken aback by the instant transformation at Villa Park, Shearer proposed that a couple of players were unhappy with the former head coach and felt shackled by the old regime. 

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The Newcastle and Blackburn legend also praised Danks for making a handful of ‘big’ changes, such as dropping Aston Villa captain John McGinn. 

‘To me, it would look like one or two didn’t like the manager, didn’t like the way he was playing and they looked a lot freer today,’ Shearer said whilst on Match of the Day 2.

Caretaker boss Aaron Danks led Villa to a comprehensive 4-0 win against Brentford on Sunday

Shearer praised Danks for making a ‘big decision’ and dropping Villa’s captain John McGinn

‘You would think if Steven Gerrard’s watching that wherever he is, then he’s looking back and thinking “goodness me, why couldn’t we have had that last week?”

‘But then the manager has gone and he (Danks) has made changes. Dropped the captain – big decision – and everyone looked freer today.’

The comprehensive victory climbed Villa to 14th in the table ahead of the team’s away trip to in-form Newcastle next weekend.