Blue or red, it’s a sight for sore eyes
Steven Gerrard gave the Rangers fans what they wanted to see at Ibrox yesterday when he turned out in light blue against Liverpool in the Legends match. He had earlier played for the Reds (inset) and came up against Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar.
RANGERS 2
Boyd (25), Lovenkrands (28).
LIVERPOOL 3
Garcia (10), Berger (17), Heskey (27)
Liverpool icon Patrick Berger believes there’s no chance of Steven Gerrard leaving Rangers for a job in Turkey.
Besiktas are said to have the Ibrox manager on their shortlist if they sack under-pressure coach Abdullah Avci.
But Berger, who lined-up alongside Gerrard in a charity match at Ibrox yesterday, is convinced the former England captain won’t be moving in the near future.
He said: “I think this is a massive job. I don’t think going to Turkey would give him any extra edge or anything better.
“This is the right place for him. He wouldn’t go there.
“I think he is working towards his goal to be Liverpool manager one day.
“Rangers is still one of the biggest clubs in Europe, so it is fantastic as a learning curve for him.”
The Czech midfielder has been impressed by Gerrard’s work in his first managerial post.
He went on: “You can tell that they love him here. Ever since he came in, he’s done a fantastic job.
“They know he is very passionate, and
that he will do everything to get Rangers to where they belong.
“I see the progress that he has been made. I have followed the results. Even last year, they did really well and this year they are doing even better.
“It is great for him and great for the fans, although I didn’t like him in the blue shirt that much!”
The Rangers faithful couldn’t disagree more with the veteran’s last point.
Watching Steven Gerrard perform in a Rangers strip had the Light Blues’ supporters dreaming of what might have been.
He spent most of the afternoon in red as he captained a Liverpool legends side against a team of former Rangers stars.
But the 39-year-old changed kit to turn out for his current club during the last 10 minutes.
The Light Blues’ boss was the subject of some light-hearted booing from the home fans in the 30,488 crowd, but that didn’t stop him doing his best to score for his old side.
Gerrard has lost nothing of the competitive streak that made him so successful on the field. His desire to hit the net was just as strong during his cameo in the Rangers line-up but a goal didn’t come.
He came up against another man who doesn’t play friendlies in Alex Rae. The Scot went right through Gerrard with a sliding tackle shortly after kick-off.
It was a challenge that clearly made an impression, the Rangers manager waiting more than 70 minutes before hauling down his midfield rival.
Rae jumped up and looked like he was ready to thump his opponent – then realised it was Gerrard.
He said: “It was just a reaction to a liberty being taken. I must have tackled him back in my Wolves days and he had remembered it.
“Given half the chance, I’d have given him one back but, thankfully, he joined us for the last 10 minutes.”
Kris Boyd missed from the penalty spot before Luis Garcia and Patrik Berger hit the net for Liverpool.
Boyd then scored from open play before Emile Heskey increased the Reds’ lead.
Peter Lovenkrands was immediately on target but Rangers, even with Gerrard in their ranks, couldn’t draw level.
One member of his family did get an effort over the line after the final whistle.
Two-year-old Lio Gerrard joined his dad on the pitch and, to the delight of those in the stands, nudged the ball into an empty net.
He looks like a star of the future!
Rangers – Alexander; Hutton, Cuellar (Andrews 45), Gough (Hill 21), Papac; Rae, Albertz (Vignal 32) (Mendes 45); Buffell (Steven 66) (Adam 82), Mcculloch (Gerrard 82), Lovenkrands (Johansson 42) (Novo 74), Boyd (Mols 45). Liverpool – Dudek; Mcateer (Warnock 58), Carragher, Johnson, Enrique, Pennant (Vignal 45) (Pennant 71), Gerrard (Thompson 76), Berger, Kuyt (Mcateer 89); Garcia, Heskey.