Gerrard reveals he tried to take young star Longstaff to Ibrox

RANGERS manager Steven Gerrard has revealed he rang up Rafa Benitez a “couple of times” trying to loan players from Newcastle.

As a player, Gerrard enjoyed the best period of his career at Liverpool, playing under the management of Benitez as they won the Champions League and FA Cup together.

The duo also reached another Champions League final together, as well as almost winning the Premier League in 2009.

As a manager, the former England captain has enjoyed a solid first two seasons at

Ibrox.

During Gerrard’s first season in charge, Benitez was in his last season as Newcastle manager and despite his best efforts, attempts to persuade his former boss to lend him a couple of his young stars – including Sean Longstaff – fell on deaf ears.

“I phoned him a couple of times at Newcastle to try to loan a couple of his players and as you can imagine he blew me out,” Gerrard said.

“The relationship is totally fine. I can phone him up now and talk to him for 45 minutes; the relationship is totally fine and perfect. It was just at the time, my relationship with him was a little bit different from how it was with Gerard Houllier. It was a little bit more cold, if you like.”

He added: “I tried to get Longstaff in my first year here. He was the best midfielder around in the under-23 leagues at the time. It was just a call to say, ‘Look, do you want us to help him to play and to get him ready?’

“Then he scored a goal from the edge of the box in the next game and I just sent Rafa a text saying, ‘Well that’s the end of that, then, isn’t it?’”