Gerrard can’t take another desolation derby

Ibrox manager admits he cost Liverpool against their old rivals, but is sure his Light Blues won’t lose cool in Old Firm RANGERS

IF anyone in the Ibrox dressing room this afternoon needs a word of advice about derby day, there is no better man to have in their corner than Steven Gerrard.

The Merseyside showdowns so often brought out the best in the Liverpool legend. The day it didn’t is fondly remembered by the blue half of the city, though.

It is almost 20 years since the Toffees went to Anfield and tasted success as the side led by Walter Smith earned a 1-0 win. Kevin Campbell scored the only goal of the game as Sander Westerveld and Francis Jeffers were sent off for fighting in the second half.

As Liverpool chased a late equaliser, the red mist came down on Gerrard and a reckless challenge on Campbell saw the 19-yearold sent off at the end of a remarkable fixture.

That was just one experience that helped shape Gerrard the player and one instance he can call upon now that he is Gerrard the manager.

He will not be able to pull on his boots to get involved in the derby battle, but Gerrard knows exactly what it takes to win the war as he prepares for his second Old Firm showdown with Celtic this afternoon.

“I think you have to find the right balance in terms of playing emotionally, but also with the right focus and concentration,” Gerrard said. “I think if you can find that as a player, you can find the performance in there.

“That’s when I always used to play at my best in derbies, when I was fired up but when I had emotional control.

“On a few occasions I boiled over and got it wrong. But for me to find some of my top performances in derbies I had to go there and take it to the edge. We lost once [to Everton at Anfield], off the top of my head. And it was my fault as well, I got sent off.

“But they were always my favourite fixtures as a player. I am not going to lie to you, when the fixture list in the SPL came out, you go straight to the Old Firm games.

“I can’t wait. I really enjoyed the experience in the first Old Firm game. I didn’t enjoy the result because it lingered for that little bit longer and it was a tough one to get over.

“But I am certainly excited for the opportunity to try and win an Old Firm. That’s what I came here for, it was a big draw for me.”

The meetings between Liverpool and Everton are often dubbed ‘the friendly rivalry’ but there was little camaraderie on or off the park once the whistle went during Gerrard’s time.

There is no chance of the