Steven Gerrard has pledged to go “all in” at Aston Villa after urging fans and stars to ignore the noise over his Liverpool heritage.
Anfield legend Gerrard is back in the Premier League after signing three-and-a-half-year terms to boss Villa after quitting Rangers.
The deal ties him to Villa Park until 2024, when Jurgen Klopp’s contract is up at his old club Liverpool.
Various former Reds, such as John Barnes, have suggested Gerrard will use Villa as a stepping stone back to Anfield.
Gerrard is due to take Villa to Liverpool on December 11 but has pledged his total commitment to his new club.
The Reds’ former Champions League-winning skipper,41, said: “I don’t think me or anyone else will be able to control the noise.
“For me that is not important.
“What is important is the chance to go to Anfield and win and try and take maximum points.
“That is the attitude and mentality we will have going into every game.
“I want to win every game.
“Now my priority and focus and everything I will give on a daily basis will be for Aston Villa.
“One thing I can guarantee to the supporters and all the staff and players here is, when I commit to something, I am all in.”
Villa have turned to Gerrard after five successive defeats cost Dean Smith his job.
The club's billionaire owners are desperate for success after a net spend of over £200million since buying the club in 2018.
While fans are anxious to see their team lift major silverware for the first time since 1996.
Gerrard,41, said: “The excitement levels are really high.
“My stomach has been turning over and doing somersaults.
“I am very hungry and ambitious.
“The start can’t come quick enough.
“I like a challenge, I like a risk.
“It is something I am looking forward to getting into.
“I think this club will suit me because I know the fans are very passionate and there is a demand and a pressure to win.
“That is something I have lived with since I was 17.
“For me it is about making everyone come together, be unified and I believe we can do exciting things together.
“I have learnt an awful lot in the past three-and-a-half-years.
“I have lived under that pressure and demand to win and compete every single week.
“There are two ways to look at pressure, you can shy away from pressure and fear it.
“Or you can be really excited, put your shoulders back and confront it head on.”
Villa kept 15 clean sheets last term but have already conceded 20 goals , including 13 in five games.
Gerrard explained it will be one of his first tasks to address Villa’s frailties ahead of Brighton ’s visit on Saturday.
He added: “We have a block of six weeks now where we have to focus very much on what is in the building to try and stamp our identity and philosophy and how we want to play.
“We haven’t got much time so it is very important the players listen and are focused and take the information on board.
“I want to be as entertaining and attractive on the eye as we possibly can be.
“But one thing I would like to improve on is the structure of the team from a defensive point of view, out of position.
“Our distances, our shape and what we do to regain the ball.
“That is very important to me.
“I have been very lucky over the years when I have been a player to take some of that stuff off some world-class managers.
“The players need to listen to the information and be the best versions of themselves individually and collectively.
“Leave all the pressure to me, that is my job and what I get paid for.
“How this team behaves and plays is on me.”
