1) Ings shows Gerrard what he can offer next season
Steven Gerrard prefers to vary his attacking shape to keep opponents guessing and has switched from using a midfield diamond to 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 in his first six months in charge at Aston Villa. The manager was in full agreement that his team looked better once Danny Ings came on as a substitute to join Ollie Watkins as split strikers, with Philippe Coutinho then playing between them, as a false 9 or as the attacking tip of a diamond depending on your interpretation. Both strikers scored in the victory that relegated Norwich and were also instrumental when Villa went on a three-game winning run in February and March, though Ings, with six goals and several niggly injuries in his first season at the club, admitted: “Overall this season for me has been a little underwhelming. I am happy to come on today and help. It is hard to get a rhythm.” Peter Lansley
