Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Top sides need top keepers..
STEVEN GERRARD has compared Rangers keeper Allan McGregor to Pepe Reina – and says Ibrox director of football Mark Allen is a genius for getting him on a free.
Gerrard rates Liverpool icon Reina as the best he ever played with at Anfield and believes McGregor is on a par with the Spaniard.
And after his incredible display against Villarreal in the Europa League on Thursday night, the Gers boss still can’t believe he got the 36-year-old for nothing.
He said: “Domestically, Pepe Reina is the best I’ve played with. But Allan is up there with him, for sure.
“I wasn’t lucky enough to play with him but I’m delighted to have him as one of my players.
“He’s similar to Pepe in many ways, I have the same trust in both of them.
“When someone was through on goal and Reina was there, I always felt he could bail us out. You get that same feeling with McGregor.
“To win the biggest games in any league, you need a top goalie.
“It was an area when I took over here that I was keen to strengthen.
“Speaking to the recruitment team when I knew McGregor was available and desperate to come back, it was a no-brainer. I still can’t believe we got him for free. That was a stroke of genius from Mark Allen.”
Gerrard’s side face
Hearts today knowing a victory will take them top of the Premiership.
He said: “It would be great for the supporters to go top but we have to earn the right.” ABERDEEN skipper Graeme Shinnie is gearing up for another clash with Scott Brown today and admits his Celtic rival “probably hates him”.
Shinnie and the Celtic captain have had a running battle since the final game of last season, when Brown blasted the Dons ace for a tackle which earned a yellow card.
The pair will face off at Hampden Park and Shinnie said: “I have seen Scott on a couple of occasions and he probably hates me. But he’s more respectful than you think.
“On the pitch he is a battler like I am and he goes all out to win for his team, which is something I respect and love. I’m like that myself. When I get over the white line and on to the pitch, I am just desperate to win the game.”
Shinnie refused to apologise for a crude late lunge on Brown in that clash at Parkhead back in May and later added “what goes around, comes around”.
Brown responded by saying that it had been “a little boy’s tackle” and slammed Shinnie for “not having great quality”.
The pair had another altercation in Celtic’s 1-0 win in September, when Brown snatched a note that had been passed to Shinnie by boss Derek McInnes and gave it to Brendan Rodgers.