Villa return to winning ways after Konsa's double against Leicester - ratings and analysis

Steven Gerrard put one over his old Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers as VAR reared its head in a pulsating Midlands derby at Villa Park.

Villa had an effort ruled out when Jacob Ramsey prodded home after goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had one hand on the ball.

But two goals from Ezri Konsa in front of watching England coach Gareth Southgate after Harvey Barnes gave Rodgers’ Leicester the lead saw Villa deservedly return to winning ways for their third victory in four under Gerrard.

Leicester took the lead in the 14th minute after some poor Villa defending.

Patson Daka, making his first league start for the Foxes, twice got the better of Marvellous Nakamba and Matty Cash in midfield and teed up the unmarked Barnes, who took a touch before rolling the ball through the legs of Konsa and into the corner of the net.

Villa survived a VAR call as Leicester claimed an offside after Konsa got the faintest touch to Emilianio Buendia’s planted header.

The goal came after Douglas Luiz’s free kick had been partly headed away by Jonny Evans and nodded back into the danger area by Cash.

Then came the VAR controversy. Ramsey turned the ball home after Schmeichel got a hand to the ball when Cash climbed above Luke Thomas to head back Douglas Luiz’s cross.

But referee Michael Oliver was called to look at the pitchside monitor after replays showed Schmeichel had a hand on the ball on the ground, deeming it under control, and ruled it out.

Schmeichel then appeared to be at fault as Konsa scored again in the 54th minute.

The centre back held off Caglar Söyüncü to squeeze in a header and beat Schmeichel at his near post from John McGinn’s corner.

Maddison fired inches wide but it was Villa now in the ascendancy.

Schmeichel stuck out a vital hand to deny Ollie Watkins after John McGinn put him through.

Leicester were denied by some goalkeeping brilliance by Emiliano Martinez as he turned over a looping header from Barnes after Timothy Castagne’s cross had been flicked on by Daka.