Gary Lineker's two-word comment on Steven Gerrard plan for Aston Villa win at Everton

Steven Gerrard delivered another statement win for Aston Villa on Saturday.

Villa moved up to tenth place in the Premier League table after a 1-0 victory at Everton thanks to a header from Emiliano Buendia in first-half added time.

It was the first game Philippe Coutinho and Buendia started together, the pair drifting into space inside full-backs Matty Cash and Lucas Digne, who stayed wide.

When Coutinho was signed on loan from Barcelona earlier this season, it prompted discussion about Buendia’s future only months after his club-record £33 million arrival from Norwich City.

Before Saturday’s game, Buendia had only scored once for Villa and had struggled to make a consistent impact in games.

However, he and Coutinho dovetailed nicely at Goodison Park, and that was picked up on by BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker and pundits Danny Murphy and Alan Shearer.

Gerrard was praised for a tactical intervention that saw Coutinho and Buendia line up behind Ollie Watkins.

“A great result for Villa, and you noticed a tactical adjustment from Gerrard,” Lineker said to Murphy.

“There was talk when Coutinho came in that he may be replacing Buendia, but together they are playing really narrow and close to Watkins,” Murphy said.

“It was really good to watch, and it is going to cause teams problems.

“They are going into the number ten positions, and the Everton midfielders didn’t know whether to press, drop off or stay with the defenders.”

“It works, it works,” Lineker said in agreement.”

Villa return to action when they play Leeds United two weeks on Wednesday, with Gerrard set to prepare his side for a run at the European places, with the winter break offering teams a chance to rest from a gruelling Premier League season so far.

What do you make of Lineker and Murphy’s thoughts? Have your say in the comments section…