The Sunday Post (Newcastle)

No split loyalties for Wark ahead of the Battle of Britain . . . He wants a Rangers win!

- By Iain Collin SPORT@SUNDAYPOST.COM

A boyhood Rangers fan who became a Liverpool favourite, John Wark was thrilled to see his two clubs drawn together in the Champions League.

And the former Scotland midfielder is convinced Rangers have a chance of causing a massive upset in the latest “Battle of Britain”.

Sandwiched between two memorable spells at Ipswich Town, Wark spent just four years at Liverpool but made a huge impact, scoring an incredible 42 goals in 108 games.

Winning two league titles, the Glaswegian also played in the 1985 European Cup Final, but the 1-0 defeat was overshadow­ed by 39 Juventus supporters losing their life inside the Heysel Stadium.

The subsequent European ban denied Wark the opportunit­y to add continenta­l success to the UEFA Cup he lifted with Ipswich in 1981.

But now, as a supporter of both, he is relishing the

prospect of the Champions League tussles between the Light Blues and the Reds.

The 65-year-old said: “Since the draw, I’ve had so many people getting in touch about it. I still have relations in Glasgow, asking if I’ll be coming up to the game at Ibrox.

“I’ve had so many texts from people asking if I can get them tickets – but I’ll just be happy to get one for myself!

“It was something I was desperate to see. I watched Rangers against PSV, and once they qualified I was hoping they would draw Liverpool.

“I work in hospitalit­y at Portman Road. But when Ipswich are away, I go to Anfield if it works out.

“It’s not an easy game for either team, it’s a hard group. But Liverpool, before yesterday, had been very, very poor so far this season.

“I was at the Crystal Palace game, and then watched them at Old Trafford last Monday when they didn’t treat it like a Liverpool-Man. United game.

“They’ve got a lot of injuries, but if they play like that against Rangers, they can forget it.

“The atmosphere’s going to be incredible at both games. People talk about the atmosphere at Anfield and the great European nights, but Ibrox is exactly the same. It’s going to be unbelievab­le.

“I’m really looking forward to it, and I think you’ve got to give Rangers a chance. They did brilliantl­y to get to the Europa League Final last season – and they should have won it.

“They’ve got great European experience, and have beaten some big clubs. So it’s going to be brilliant to now see them against Liverpool, and who I want to win is not a difficult question. It’s Rangers! They’ve always been my team.

“I played for Liverpool when they were a fantastic team. But Rangers have been my team since I was a baby.

“I know people might think I’m wrong saying that because I played for Liverpool. But when you’ve supported a team, it’s different.

“The ideal would be for Liverpool and Rangers to finish first and second in the group.”

 ?? ?? John Wark at Ibrox in 2019
John Wark at Ibrox in 2019

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