I'm totally focused on the game - Gerrard ahead of Liverpool game

boss Steven Gerrard claimed before his side's game against

that he would focus on the game and ignore Anfield's noise.

Gerrard played 710 games for Liverpool as a player, winning the

, FA Cup, EFL Cup, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup. The English legend has recently taken charge of Aston Villa and has won 3 of his first 4 games. Now, before returning to Anfield, he claimed that all his focus would be on the game.

"The noise is for other people to get excited about,"

Gerrard told reporters. 

"For me, it's about preparing the team in the best way I can to try to get a positive result for Aston Villa.

"For everyone else, it's a massive occasion. For me, it's three points, it's a big game of football, and it's 90 minutes that we need to focus on.

"If I'm on the bus, heading back down the M6 towards Birmingham, and I’m not the most popular at Anfield, so be it."

However, the excitement of returning to Anfield already exists in Gerrard. He added: 

"I really respect and understand all the noise around the game for obvious reasons, because I'm going back to a club [where] I spent many years," Gerrard said. 

"It brings a smile to my face for a couple of reasons. One, because, obviously, I've got a good relationship with a lot of people at the club.

"I had a fantastic time there, a really good journey, I'm a local boy, [they're] the team I supported growing up, and I always will support that team – of course I will.

"But at the same time, it brings a smile to my face because I have the opportunity to go there and compete against a good team, a good manager with the opportunity to try to win the game, and that's my main focus."

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