Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard paid tribute to his former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier ahead of his Premier League coaching debut this weekend.

Houllier was the Liverpool manager who turned Gerrard from a promising young player into one of the Premier League's top midfielders and Gerrard's love and respect for the Frenchman were clear to see. Houllier, who passed away on December 14 last year, aged 73, was Villa manager from 2009-10 but stepped down due to ill health.

"I'm sure he's looking down very proud," said Gerrard.

"I'll be forever in his debt for what he did for me. He changed me as a person, he helped me a lot as a player. He really improved my game intelligence and what it takes to stay at the top level.

"He went out of his way to talk to my parents, to see what I was eating and how I was getting on. I used to lean on him for advice. And his advice to me was always, 'Go and be the best version of yourself and you won't go too far wrong'."