Aston Villa v Everton: A defining season for Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard?

It was a debate that raged for years during their playing days: Who was the better midfielder – Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard?

The spotlight will be firmly on both for the coming campaign as they look to make their mark, having had their first full pre-seasons at their respective clubs.

Who has the best managerial record so far and who appears best equipped for the coming season? BBC Sport takes a look.

How do their Premier League records compare?

Having enjoyed great success in charge of Rangers in Scotland, Gerrard made the move into Premier League management last November, replacing Dean Smith at Villa.

Gerrard made a promising start, winning four of his first six league games, but that form tailed off significantly towards the end of last season as he oversaw just two wins and five losses in their final 10 games.

Villa finished 14th, comfortably clear of relegation but perhaps disappointing for a side with aspirations of finishing closer to the top 10.

“It was a poor end to last season,” former Chelsea forward Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I think with the money invested when he took over from Dean Smith, it was all about getting to the next level and making that next step. They haven’t done that. The pressure is on this season.”

Lampard, meanwhile, became Everton manager at the end of January, joining a side low on confidence and trying to avoid getting sucked into a relegation battle.

It looked bleak at times for the Toffees but a run of four wins from their final nine games, including victories against Manchester United, Chelsea and a win from 2-0 down against Crystal Palace, secured Premier League survival.

Overall, Lampard has a Premier League win percentage of 32% at Everton, worse than Gerrard’s record although he did come into much tougher circumstances.

Including his time in charge of Chelsea, Lampard’s win percentage as a Premier League manager is 45%. Before taking the Chelsea job, his first managerial role was in the Championship at Derby County, who finished sixth in 2018-19 and lost in the play-off final to Villa.

“Although I personally wouldn’t see it that way, this will be a career-defining season in some people’s eyes,” former Everton winger Pat Nevin told BBC Sport.

“With most managers it is not necessarily about how good the manager is, it is about the job and Everton is a tough job.

“It is hard to get players to go to Everton, it hurts me as an Evertonian to say that but if Newcastle are in, Manchester City are in, Liverpool are in, then you are not going to get those players.

“In some ways, what he learned at Derby could be more important than at Chelsea in terms of getting the right players in.

“‘Defining season’ is an easy headline but I would say it is a massively important one.”

Have they been backed in the transfer market?

Gerrard pulled off a bit of coup by bringing his former Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho in on loan last season and this summer Villa secured the Brazilian playmaker’s permanent signing from Barcelona.

Coutinho scored four goals and provided three assists and will no doubt be a key player for the club this season.

Other significant summer signings include France international midfielder Boubacar Kamara from Marseille and defender Diego Carlos from Sevilla.

Having just staved off relegation last season, Lampard targeted his defence as the area to improve over the summer.

Established Premier League centre-backs James Tarkowski and Conor Coady have come in from Burnley and Wolves respectively, the latter on a season-long loan, while ex-Wolves defender Ruben Vinagre has joined on loan from Sporting Lisbon.

Forward Dwight McNeil has also arrived from the relegated Clarets while £33m was spent to recruit 20-year-old Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana from Lille.

How did their opening games go?