Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SPARTAK MOSCOW v RANGERS WE DON’T FEAR THE RACISTS
Gerrard vows to protect players in Russia
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STEVEN GERRARD has vowed to turn protective if Rangers players are targeted for racist abuse against Spartak Moscow tonight.
The Ibrox boss touched down in the Russian capital last night for the first time since he led Liverpool under-19s in a Champions League youth match last season.
Reds winger Bobby Adekanye was subjected to monkey chants from the home support then and Spartak were hammered by UEFA, who ordered a partial closure of their stadium in the aftermath.
Rangers could have up to five players of colour in their starting line-up tonight as they bid to take a step closer to the last 32 of the Europa League.
Gerrard will warn players such as Connor Goldson and Ovie Ejaria about the potential reaction from home fans and pledged to be there for every one of them if the atmosphere turns nasty.
Asked about his experience, Gerrard said: “Yes, it was bad. Any racist stuff is bad, it’s always bad.
“I hope it doesn’t happen here this time but it’s something we can’t control. I never want to experience being in the stadium and hearing it myself.
“I don’t want to see it in any other stadium either but it will be something I will mention to the team. I’ve had the experience 12 months ago in the same area so I will definitely be speaking to the team about it to say if it happens again I am here for them to support them and we will deal with it if or when it happens.
“Let’s all hope it doesn’t because we don’t want to see it.”
Rangers will be without Ryan Kent, Kyle Lafferty and Borna Barisic.
Gerrard said: “Ryan’s struggling with a hamstring and the earliest we will see him is after the international break, if everything goes well.
“Borna won’t be available until after the international break and Kyle still has an issue with his quad muscle which prevented him from travelling.”