Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea: Mason Mount double puts pressure on Gerrard as Blues’ fine form continues

It just had to be Chelsea. The team who caused Steven Gerrard the most painful defeat of his playing career produced a victory that will only increase the pressure on his position as Aston Villa manager.

In 2014, Gerrard lost his footing at Anfield in a game against Chelsea, leading to a goal for Demba Ba and a 2-0 loss that put a huge dent in Liverpool‘s title hopes.

The former England captain was haunted by that moment for years to come. Will this defeat come to make him feel the same way?

Midfielder Mason Mount (pictured above) scored twice as Chelsea beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon

The result piles the pressure on struggling Villa manager Steven Gerrard, who knows all about heartbreak against Chelsea

Gerrard’s slip when playing for Liverpool allowed Chelsea’s Demba Ba to score, putting a huge dent in the Reds’ title hopes

Villa Park was nearly half-empty at full-time and those who remained, booed, with some catcalls directed at Gerrard as he walked down the tunnel.

‘Sacked in the morning!’ shouted the Blues fans, and there are certainly some uncomfortable days ahead for Gerrard.

Goals in either half from Mason Mount extended Graham Potter’s unbeaten start as Chelsea manager to six matches, but Chelsea’s win owed a great deal to two Tyrone Mings errors and some stunning saves from Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Chelsea looked vulnerable without the injured Reece James and Villa played well at times yet had no luck, especially in the first half when Jacob Ramsey, Danny Ings and John McGinn went close.

Improved display or not, Gerrard’s side have taken only nine points from their first 10 matches, scoring seven goals. 

Chief executive Christian Purslow and sporting director Johan Lange looked grim-faced in the directors’ box and it would be no surprise if there were discussions on Gerrard’s future before Thursday’s trip to Fulham. 

Owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens have spent more than half a billion in the transfer market and will expect more bang for their buck. 

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Gerrard used the word ‘frustration’ four times in programme notes and after six minutes, you understood exactly why. When Ben Chilwell’s cross looped off Ramsey, it should have been a routine clearance for Tyrone Mings.

Instead the centre-back got his timing all wrong and the ball spun off his head into the path of Mount, who volleyed precisely past Emi Martinez from close range. The travelling fans loved that and at that stage, Villa fans were no more positive towards their side.

As Ezri Konsa sent an aimless ball upfield, they groaned, and there were boos when Villa worked a promising position on the right, only to pass backwards instead of crossing or playing inside. 

To their team’s credit, they were undaunted, and some of the football they played from the 20th minute onwards was among their best of the season. 

In the 21st minute, Kepa was shaky in parrying McGinn’s shot back into the danger zone, but more than made up for it by somehow turning the follow-up from Ramsey – a ferocious low drive – on to the post.

Villa defender Tyrone Mings made an early error, miscuing his header and allowing Mount to score after just six minutes

Mount anticipated the chance brilliantly and stole in, placing the ball past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (above right)

Villa were in the mood now and McGinn won a duel with Thiago Silva before crossing for Leon Bailey, whose header clipped the top of the crossbar. Then the recalled Ings tried to beat Kepa at the near post when Ollie Watkins was waiting for a cut-back.

Chelsea were rattled. Raheem Sterling looked uneasy at right wing-back and so did Marc Cucurella on the left of the back three, where Bailey was troubling the Spaniard with his speed and direct running. The equaliser seemed inevitable, only for Kepa to bail Chelsea out again with an astonishing stop from Ings.

Bailey’s cross was accurate and Ings was well inside the six-yard box when he powered his header goalwards. Somehow, Kepa turned it over the bar and Gerrard sank to his knees, head in hands.

Chilwell was booked for an ugly lunge at Ramsey as Villa kept pushing, forcing Potter to send Sterling into the attacking three, moving Mount into midfield and asking Ruben Loftus-Cheek to do Sterling’s old job. 

The England forward was clearly much happier pushed closer to the Villa goal, and he hit the bar after Mount and Kai Havertz had combined to set him up.

Mings then gave away a needless free kick by fouling Mount shortly after the hour mark, allowing Mount to score a free-kick

The result ends Villa’s four-match unbeaten run and defeat leaves the Midlands side just one point above the relegation zone

Even that close shave was not enough to change Potter’s mind, and he hauled off Cucurella and Havertz at the interval, bolstering his defence with Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta.

The pattern remained the same early in the second half: Villa probing, Chelsea resisting. Watkins glanced a header off target and had a shot deflected wide.

But sometimes, it just isn’t your day. Potter had just made his fourth change of the match, bringing on Jorginho for Mateo Kovacic, when Chelsea made it two. Mings’ clumsy challenge on Mount gave Chelsea a free-kick about 25 yards from goal. 

Mount sent it swerving over the way and beyond Emi Martinez, who had taken a step to his right and was fooled by the flight of the ball.

A little of Villa’s heart had gone at this stage and Sterling nearly made it three with a header from substitute Conor Gallagher’s cross that crept wide. Then came the boos and the anxious hours ahead for Gerrard.