0, LEMINA 1
A league champion at last, Gerrard celebrates the end of Rangers’ title drought with a much happier slide
Fulham scored the goal that had been coming for much of the first half.
Their form is poor, it is true, their confidence at a low ebb. But supporters would at least want to see fight from their team and a reaction to yet another reverse on a ground where until the turn of this year they had been virtually invincible.
Yet there was none, apart from one brief flourish just after the break when Diogo Jota’s volley was superbly saved by Alphonse Areola.
They did not produce another shot on target, though sub Sadio Mane did hit the bar with a looping header from Naby Keita’s cross.
Indeed, when Lemina (right) scored, after brushing aside a weak Mo Salah on the edge of the Liverpool box as the striker lazily tried to control Andy Robertson’s clearance, you knew Klopp’s side were defeated.
That is the story of their fortunes since the end of December. They are a side whose collective heads go down at the slightest reverse, a side who lack any spirit or fight, let alone creativity or threat.
Draws against struggling West Brom and Newcastle at the end of last year hinted at problems at Anfield. Few could have guessed just how deep those problems ran. In 2021 they have lost at home to Burnley, Brighton, Manchester City, Everton, Chelsea, and Fulham.
Fulham had the bulk of the chances here, the impressive Josh Maja showing pace and strength to lead the line with the sort of verve the home side so desperately lacked.
He had a chance as early as the third minute when he volleyed over a pass from the equally impressive Ademola Lookman. And later, he was denied only by a fine save from Alisson from close range.
In between, Fulham, giving their survival hopes a massive boost, played good football and
exploited appalling weakness on the counter in a Liverpool side who do not know whether to stick or twist. Wednesday’s Champions League game against RB Leipzig seems to be the last chance of Red redemption in a nightmare season. But every time you think it cannot get any worse, it does.
STEVEN GERRARD’S most famous slip came as a horrified Kop looked on in 2014 when Chelsea’s Demba Ba nipped in to score – and undermine Liverpool’s title hopes.
Now a more joyous bit of sliding marks the point where the Rangers manager finally got to call himself a league champion.
Gerrard’s dry cleaner will struggle to remove the beer stains from his suit after the Ibrox boss made a good Cresta Run impersonation through a lake of ale poured on the dressing-room floor following Saturday’s 3-0 win over St Mirren.
Ryan Kent (below) got the opener and Ianis Hagi (inset, top) signed off with the third goal.
Then Celtic’s 0-0 draw at Dundee United confirmed the inevitable yesterday, relieving the other half of the Old Firm of the crown after nine years of domination.
And it was hard to swallow for Hoops such as Callum McGregor (inset, bottom).
As Liverpool crumbled to a sixth successive league defeat at Anfield, their revered son was being toasted in his adopted city of Glasgow, while he talked of a beginning not an end. Gerrard said: “I got a feeling today I want more, I’m hungry for more and
I hope my players share that.
“If they do it’s exciting times to be a Rangers fan. That’s got to make you hungry for more.
“I’m already thinking about what’s next. That’s my drive.
“I want to win football matches and I want to have moments like that in the dressing room.”
Rangers fans gathered outside Ibrox to celebrate on Saturday – and yesterday. The decade
under
Celtic’s boot has felt like a thousand years of purgatory. Gerrard said: “It’s been an emotional day, seeing the scenes. “It was an incredible feeling. “This club has been to hell and back over the past 10 years. “I’ve only been part of it for three, but I can relate and I’ve got that affection with the fans. I know what they have been through.
“It hasn’t always been up and up, but I have nothing but plaudits for my players.” Former Ibrox and Anfield hero Graeme Souness was thrilled to see his old club back on top in Scotland. He said: “I’m delighted for Steven
Gerrard and all his team. It’s been a long time coming.
“Celtic have had a period of domination that was uncomfortable for us Rangers supporters. This is fully deserved. I just wish I was in Glasgow right now.
“There is part of me wishes Celtic had won today, so Rangers had to go to Parkhead and win it there which would have compounded Celtic’s problems. But I’ll take that today.”
Sitting next to Souness yesterday, ex-Celtic boss Roy Keane was less than enthusiastic, encapsulating the gulf in emotion across the great Glasgow divide.
Asked if he had any words of celebration for Rangers, Sky TV pundit Keane said: “For Rangers? No. It’s been a tough year for Celtic but they’ll bounce back next year like all great clubs do.”
Gerrard’s Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher was more generous. He said: “When Gerrard came in that was the name of the game – to stop Celtic.
“They’ve come a long way. He’s done a brilliant job.”
Gerrard, though, handed the win to the supporters.
“Everyone has played their part to get to this day and we won’t forget
anyone,” he said.