Gerrard likes physicality of Scottish game but when it goes too far he demands protection for ALL players
STEVEN GERRARD was never a player to shy away from a tasty tackle when he was in his prime and doesn’t want to see a tickling contest now he’s on the other side of the touchline.
But the Rangers boss reckons there does need to be a line – and Scottish football crosses it too many times for his liking.
You get the sense Gerrard rather enjoys some of our game’s ragged edges. Everyone knows the Premiership is not the Premier League yet there is a hypnotic quality to some of the chaos up here.
But it’s one thing being rough and tough, it’s another being dangerous and out of control.
Gerrard doesn’t want to see referees throwing red cards around for fun but there is a duty of care needed for players when there are some running around like it’s the lawless Wild West.
Former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers felt the same. He winced at some of the challenges that went unpunished up north and his ex-Liverpool charge is the same boat.
Gerrard’s had time to pore over the footage from the Betfred Cup win at Livingston the other night, even if it was a difficult watch seeing Joe Aribo suffer a gruesome post-watershed knock that left him needing 20 stitches in his forehead.
The Ibrox gaffer still doesn’t believe Livi’s Ricki Lamie meant any harm – but he remains convinced it was a red-card offence and the fact the clash didn’t even warrant a yellow sends out the wrong message.
When asked if players get away with more in Scotland, Gerrard was clear and insisted it’s not a party political stance.
He said: “One hundred per cent. Is it a good thing for the game up here? That’s for you to debate.
“There are two sides to it. It BY MICHAEL GANNON adds to the excitement up here at times. We don’t want the game to be stop-start and ruining the excitement for the supporters.
“But at the same time, all I ask for is protection across the board. Not just for my team. If this was the other way round, I wouldn’t have enjoyed seeing one of the Livingston players going off with 20 stitches. Not at all.
“I’m one for physicality if it is channelled in the right way. It’s what I believe in. The game is more exciting if it’s intense and people are fair and tough. I’m all for that. But players need more protection in terms of these incidents – not just my players, across the league and board.
“Lamie hasn’t gone in to cause that injury. I’m convinced of that. I’ve watched it back a lot of times.
“I’ve been up here long enough to know certain players and if they have that nasty streak in them or not. There is no accusation here towards the player at all. But that’s a red card.
“It’s not about intent, it’s about dangerous play. If I put my foot up in someone’s face or whatever, it’s not about me meaning to go and do that but it’s serious foul play, dangerous play – and it’s a red card.”
Gerrard is making his point in the wider context of the game but there’s clearly bad blood beneath the surface when it comes to Gary Holt and his robust Livingston side.
Holt suggested Gers defender Filip Helander was lucky to escape a red for a last-man lunge. The Livi gaffer didn’t make a big deal out of it but it was a line that got under Gerrard’s skin.
He said: “For their manager to say we got away with one, I’m not