Steven Gerrard is using Aston Villa as a stepping stone for Liverpool job, says John Barnes

John Barnes believes Steven Gerrard's appointment as the Aston Villa manager is a stepping stone to the Liverpool job.

Gerrard left his role as the Rangers manager to replace Dean Smith at Villa after he was sacked following the club's fifth successive defeat.

Barnes believes the role at Villa is 'one of the more attractive jobs' in the Premier League and says it could help Gerrard succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in 'two-three years'.

Speaking of Gerrard's appointment at Villa, the former Liverpool player turned TV pundit told BonusCodeBets: 'The Premier League is where managers want to be, and everyone is aware that Steven Gerrard is focusing on the Liverpool job.

'But if that won't be around for two or three years, clubs like Aston Villa are one of the more attractive jobs, and they can eventually push into the top six, given the size of the club.

'Will a bigger club come along? No one can know for sure. If Celtic beat Rangers this year, would Steven still have had the same hype? If he aspires to manage in the Premier League, it's a decent club for him.'

Gerrard joined Rangers in May 2018 and guided them to their first league title in 10 years last season.

Now he will leave the Scottish Premiership with Rangers sitting four points clear of rivals Celtic at the top of the table.

However, Gerrard will face an up-hill battle to turn things at Aston Villa after Smith left the club hovering above the relegation zone in 16th position.

If the former Liverpool captain is able to turn things around at Villa, he could be in with a shot of landing the Liverpool job in the future.

Gerrard played 710 games in all competitions for the Reds - only surpassed by Ian Callaghan and Jamie Carragher for the most appearances made for the club.

Having become the highest-scoring midfielder in the club's history, Gerrard was given the opportunity to manage the club's U18 side in 2017.

However, he has his sights set on succeeding Jurgen Klopp and managing the Liverpool first-team in the future.

Speaking previously about the Liverpool role, Gerrard told ITV News: 'The Liverpool fans don't want me to be the manager of Liverpool Football Club.

'They want Jurgen Klopp to continue as manager and I am totally with all of them. I wish you knew how much we loved Jurgen Klopp.

'We have one of the best managers leading our club at the minute. I love him and we hope he stays for a few more years. I've got a job here, I don't think its helpful to talk about this - I hope Jurgen stays at Liverpool for many years.

'Liverpool is my club. I had a fantastic journey as a player. I'm doing a completely different career path now. I'm happy in the job and role I'm in now.

'Is it a dream for me to one day be the Liverpool manager? Yes, it is. But not yet and who's to say I'll ever be good enough? Who says I'll be the owners' choice?

'There's a lot of managers on this planet who would all like the chance to manage Liverpool.

'I think we need to respect the guy that's in charge first and foremost because he's done an incredible job.

'He's taken me to places in the last two or three years which have been incredible. The feeling. Me, my family and all the Liverpool supporters would all back that up.

'For me, let's just get behind Jurgen.'