Proud Gerrard hails his players for ‘blowing the title race wide open’
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard praised his players for “going to war” with league leaders Hearts at Ibrox and claiming a 3-1 victory he believes has blown the Premiership title race wide open.
First-half goals from Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Scott Arfield earned all three points for Rangers as Hearts, who had Michael Smith sent off before pulling a goal back through Jimmy Dunne, suffered their first defeat of the season.
Craig Levein’s side remain topofthetablebutwiththeir lead cut to just two points over nearest challengers Hibs. Only five points now cover the top half of the table and Gerrard savoured an important result for his team who had lost 1-0 at Livingston the previous weekend.
“We’ve beaten a good team today because we went to war with them and we matched them in the war,” said Gerrard. “Then our football shone through and that’s what you have to do in games like this.
“I said it before the game and I wasn’t telling lies – Hearts are where they are on merit. They have good players and a good way to play.
“This result had nothing to do with Livingston and it doesn’t heal the performance there, which just wasn’t good enough.
“The challenge for me and the team now is how can we produce these home performancesawayfromhome and that’s when we will find consistency.
“Today doesn’t heal Livingston, but it was certainly a statement and has blown the title race wide open and made it a little bit better looking for us.”
Gerrard, meanwhile, has insisted Brighton will have to offer a substantial fee if they hope to sign James Tavernier. The English Premier League club are being strongly linked with a January bid for the Rangers captain. “I know the CEO [Paul Barber] at Brighton very
well,” said Gerrard. “I used to work alongside him at the FA. He’s got my number and he knows where I am. But he best go to his owners and ask for an awful lot of money if he wants James Tavernier.
“That goes for any CEO, any owner, any club that wants my captain. They best go to the bank and get an awful lot of money out – or he’s not going.
“I would be surprised if teams don’t come [for Tavernier] because he’s been absolutely fabulous for me. Every player has their price but if the price is not right then he does not go anywhere. He stays as my captain.
“All my players are for sale. Let’s get it out in the open. Every single one of my players is for sale. They have all got a price. But they are not the old prices.
“It’s the new prices. So if you want them, then come with loads of money and you can have them.”