Stevie: Allan up there with my mate Pepe

Steven Gerrard has compared Rangers keeper Allan McGregor to Pepe Reina – and says Ibrox director of football Mark Allen is a genius for getting him on a free.

Gerrard rates Liverpool icon Reina as the best he ever played with at Anfield and believes McGregor is on a par with the Spaniard.

And after his incredible display against Villarreal in the Europa League on Thursday night, the Gers boss still can’t believe he got the 36-year-old for nothing.

He said: “Domestically, Pepe Reina is the best I’ve played with. But Allan is up there with him, for sure.

“I wasn’t lucky enough to play with him but I’m delighted to have him as one of my players.

“He’s similar to Pepe in many ways, I have the same trust in both of them.

“When someone was through on goal and Reina was there, I always felt he could bail us out. You get that same feeling with McGregor. To win the biggest games in any league, you need a top goalie. “It was an area when I took over here that I was keen to strengthen. “Speaking to the recruitment team when I knew McGregor was available and desperate to come back, it was a no-brainer. I still can’t believe we got him for free. That was a stroke of genius from Mark Allen.” Gerrard will need McGregor in top form today as his side face Hearts knowing a victory will take them top of the Premiership. He said: “It would be great for the supporters to go top but we have to earn the right. It’s where you want to be. “Obviously we want to stay as high as we can for as long as we can. We want to compete at the top, that’s the challenge. “There will be a lot of twists and turns but, come the winter break, it would be nice to be sitting top.”