The first meeting between two of the greatest midfielders to grace the Premier League in their new roles as managers concluded in a victory that Steven Gerrard must have relished. After falling behind to Matt Targett's early goal and putting in their worst performance since Patrick Vieira took over from Roy Hodgson in the summer, Crystal Palace were frustrated by Aston Villa's tenacious rearguard effort before John McGinn sealed the points late on. Palace's consolation goal, scored by Marc Guéhi, came way too late.
The win not only made it two in a row for their new manager since his arrival from Rangers, but it may also serve as a standard for the rest of the season, as they handed Palace their first home defeat of the season in his first away encounter before facing Manchester City, as Gerrard recognised.