Steven Gerrard's first three jobs at Aston Villa including replacing Grealish

Steven Gerrard has a massive job in front of him at Aston Villa but he lifted the European Cup, captained England and thrived in the Old Firm goldfish bowl.

The 41-year-old knows all about pressure and expectation.

Gerrard said when he was announced earlier this week: "Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new head coach.

"In my conversations with [co-owners] Nassef [Sawiris], Wes [Edens] and the rest of the board, it was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims."

As he starts his new managerial role at Premier League strugglers Villa, he will find plenty of financial firepower to hand but also major challenges ahead.

1. JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW

Replacing talisman and captain Jack Grealish this summer was always going to be a tough ask.

Villa claimed to have done so by reinvesting most of the £100million from Manchester City on Emiliano Buendia, Danny Ings and Leon Bailey.

Yet none of the trio have set Villa alight as they have all struggled with injuries and it arguably cost Dean Smith his job.

Record £33m buy Buendia,24, was like a playstation performer in the Championship with Norwich with 15 goals and 16 assists but has a solitary goal and one assist so far.

Ings,29, has three goals but has done little to lose his tag of being injury prone after missing the last two defeats.

While £25m Jamaica international wideman Bailey,24, has pace to burn but October 31 was his first start of the season as he underwhelmed on his full debut.

Gerrard must now persevere with the trio until January at least when he will be able to bring in reinforcements using the backing of billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.

The pair have had a net spend of over £200m since rescuing the then struggling Midlands club in July 2018 from the Championship.

They have big ambitions as well as deep pockets with US investor Edens fresh from success as co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, the reigning NBA champions.

While Egyptian tycoon Sawiris is used to getting what he wants and previously openly spoke of his aims to get Villa back competing among Europe's elite.

A quality holding midfielder looks essential but the January transfer window is always an inflated market and getting Gerrard's top targets could be tricky.

2. ERRATIC DEFENCE

Villa's promising 11th place last season was built on their solid backline which enjoyed 15 clean sheets - the third best in the Premier League behind Manchester City and Chelsea.

Yet they have already conceded 20 goals in 11 games this term.

Exasperated Smith even took the nuclear option of dropping captain Tyrone Mings for West Ham's visit only to bring him off the bench in the 4-1 home loss.

Gerrard may decide on a settled system as Smith tended to flick between a back four and back three.

Matty Cash has impressed at right-back and earned a Poland call-up.

But all of the rest of the defence have looked shaky at times this season with Mings being dropped, Ezri Konsa getting sent off and left-back Matt Targett struggling.

While usually reliable keeper Emiliano Martinez has conceded 13 goals in five successive defeats.

3. IMPROVING VILLA'S GAME MANAGEMENT AND UTILISING THE CLUB'S SUPERB KIDS

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Gerrard will quickly spot the glaring shortcomings in Villa's central midfield.

The side lack a top quality holding midfielder to screen the defence as Villa have frequently been overwhelmed in the centre of the park this term and had a lack of control in games.

Even when they have led, like at 2-0 up at home to Wolves last month with 11 minutes left, a potential win was partly squandered by poor substitutions.

Jacob Ramsey is an excellent central midfield prospect and was named man of the match for England U21s this week too.

But throwing him in at 2-0 up against Wolves proved costly as he later recklessly gave away the free-kick on the edge of the box from where Ruben Neves scored a dramatic late winner.

Gerrard can maybe help nurture Ramsey better, though, and the rest of the club's exciting crop of youngsters too.

Villa won the FA Youth Cup beating Liverpool 2-1 last term and already this season some of the side have played for the first team.

These include England U19 internationals Carney Chukwuemeka and Aaron Ramsey.

Aaron's older brother Jacob,20, has 10 Premier League appearances already this term.

Upfront Cameron Archer,19, has caught the eye with four goals in the League Cup.

They head a clutch of exciting prospects from a revamped academy which includes plans to build an inner city hub near Villa Park to tap into urban talent in the Second City.