BATTLE READY
Matondo insists Rangers can add to Anfield woes
RANGERS winger Rabbi Matondo insists the Ibrox team have what it takes to add to Liverpool’s confidence crisis.
Jurgen Klopp’s side dropped points for the fifth time in seven Premier League games with a 3-3 draw at home to Brighton on Saturday ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men in the Champions League.
Speaking after his team conceded a late equaliser, Anfield boss Klopp challenged his players to fight hard to regain their momentum after admitting they were having problems with their confidence.
Rangers overcame some issues of their own with a 4-0 win at Hearts, teeing up a mouth-watering Battle of Britain clash.
Restored to the starting line-up after a difficult start to his Ibrox career, Wales international Matondo created the second of Antonio Colak’s goals as the Croatian moved to 11 in 14 appearances.
‘We know how good we can be,’ Matondo told Rangers TV. ‘We haven’t been at the races in some games, but we have so much quality in our team, so much personality and so much passion. This result can help us go into a tough game against Liverpool.’
Thrashed by Celtic, Ajax and Napoli, Rangers have bounced back with wins over Dundee United and now Hearts. With the Tynecastle side reduced
to ten men after a Cammy Devlin red card, further strikes from Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent sealed an emphatic victory. ‘From the get-go, we were top,’ said Matondo. ‘We pressed high, worked hard and took our chances.’ The 22-year-old made only his third league start since a £2.7million summer move from Schalke. Victim of the stamp which saw Devlin sent off before half-time, he said: ‘This is what you work hard for — to try and play. That hasn’t been the case this last few weeks, but you have to be ready when the chance comes.’ Virgil van Dijk, meanwhile, rejected claims that Liverpool’s stuttering start to the new campaign represents a hangover from last season. They came close to winning a quadruple, but saw the Premier League snatched away from them by Manchester City on the final day before losing the Champions League final against Real Madrid. Ex-Celtic defender Van Dijk admits they’ve been nowhere near their best but insists the disappointing climax to last season isn’t to blame. ‘Not at all, there is no hangover from that,’ said the Dutchman. ‘Teams are getting better. We play in the best league in the world, where all the teams are able to compete. We have to get back to that consistency and play with joy and freedom. ‘We have tough games ahead. Rangers in the Champions League, then Arsenal, Rangers again, City and West Ham. So let’s just go for it, get the confidence and consistency back and we know we will get there. I’m confident we will turn it around.’