‘Anfield is a special place but Ibrox is still the best’

King delighted as Rangers take on his other great love

IF half-and-half scarves are on sale outside Anfield tomorrow evening, the vendor might find a willing purchaser in Dave King. The former Rangers chairman will, of course, be wanting the visitors to win. But Liverpool are his other great footballing love.

A friend of Sir Kenny Dalglish, and the man who recruited Anfield legend Steven Gerrard to take charge at Ibrox, King views this Champions League Battle of Britain as his ‘dream’ fixture.

Whether he still feels that way at full-time might depend on how well Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side can perform against an English Premier League superpower with a point to prove on home turf after a weekend draw with Brighton continued their unconvincing form.

For now, though, King is relishing a collision between his two favourite teams.

‘It is my intention to attend both games, myself and my family,’ he said. ‘It will be an incredible occasion because I am not aware, certainly in my lifetime, of the two clubs meeting in a competitive match.

‘So for me this is a dream match. Rangers are my No 1 team, but Liverpool are my No 2 team.

‘So there’s only one team I’d even be remotely comfortable with beating Rangers in the Champions League and that would be Liverpool. I am hoping we can give them a really good game, making it as competitive as possible. I think the atmosphere on both nights will be something truly special.

‘I have been to Anfield on some very memorable nights but Ibrox is still better.

‘I don’t think there’s a better stadium on a European night than Ibrox. I don’t think anything else comes close. I love Anfield, I love the history, I love everything about it. But Ibrox is still better.’

A first-hand comparison can be made in the space of eight days, as Jurgen Klopp’s men head to Glasgow a week on Wednesday. Then, King hopes to share a curry with Dalglish.

‘I have spoken to Kenny,’ said King. ‘It’s very interesting for him as well. Kenny was a Rangers fan growing up who went on to play for Celtic. He became a Celtic and Liverpool legend. But for Kenny it’s also a very important and interesting game.

‘I’m sure he’ll have a lot of fun and hopefully we can meet in Glasgow and head off to Satty’s (Singh) for a meal before or after.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing him at Anfield.’

When Rangers and Liverpool go head-to-head, Celtic will be locking horns with RB Leipzig in a double-header in their Champions League group.

These are glamorous, high-profile fixtures. But King is uncertain whether having both halves of the Old Firm in Europe’s elite competition can be regarded as of huge benefit to Scottish football overall.

So far, Rangers have suffered two heavy defeats. Celtic have a single point. After last season’s run to Seville, King (pictured), points to the greater chance of sporting glory in the Europa League.

‘The way European football works is success based on results,’ he said. ‘I saw a recent publication where Rangers were the ninth-top team in the world and that was based on our progression in Europe and the points we get through playing games and going through qualification rounds. And there is no real differentiation between the level you are playing at.

‘So from Celtic and Rangers’ point of view, playing in the Champions League is great for both of them financially.

‘Whether on a net basis it works well for Scotland and the coefficient, I’m not too sure because there is no doubt that Rangers’ performance in the Europa League was better for Scotland and for Rangers than if we had beaten Malmo (in last season’s Champions League qualifiers).

‘It’s a kind of balance. Do you want to play at a level where you are always going to be in pot four, just kind of looking up all the time, but making a lot of money. Or do you want to be competitive?

‘My preference would be to play Leipzig at Ibrox and beat them than play Liverpool and lose.’

Financially, though, King recognises it would be damaging for Rangers not to be in the Champions League while Celtic are banking the cash it provides. His primary concern remains the domestic balance of power.

‘The importance of the Champions League each year is that, in a two-team league, what we can’t afford is Celtic having the Champions League and us not having it,’ added King.

‘My concern is always the gap between us and Celtic because my priority is still about winning domestic titles.

‘We should have won the title last year but we threw that title away.

‘I would much rather have won the league title and not got to the Europa League final.’