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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

3 Rangers talkers after Anfield defeat to Liverpool

Veteran McGregor shows class

IF there was any debate in Giovanni van Bronckhorst's mind over his first-choice goalkeeper then surely Allan McGregor banished those lingering thoughts with a world-class display at Anfield.

On a night where Liverpool were well on top and Rangers struggled to create any meaningful threat in the opposing half, McGregor was colossal.

For a period it seemed as though it was the keeper against the Liverpool attack on his own, and he was having the better time of it.

He was well beaten by a stunning Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick and sent the wrong way by Mohamed Salah from the spot but was otherwise unbeatable in a terrific performance to keep the score respectable.

King tested in major opportunity

WITH James Sands suspended Leon King was handed a huge chance to perform on the European stage as part of a five-man Rangers rearguard.

And for the most part, he was solid on a tough evening against some of the elite attacking players in the world.

King did concede the penalty to allow Liverpool to score a second and kill off the tie after a clumsy foul on Luis Diaz - but for the other 89 minutes, he didn't look out of place.

Blunt Rangers struggle to create

FOR 85 minutes Rangers looked seriously blunt and lacking in creativity in the opposition half at Anfield.

Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent were full of industry but couldn't carve out any real sights of goal on a thankless night in Merseyside.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst opted to bolster his defence, but it, in turn, limited his attack against Liverpool.

However, the Ibrox boss will have been spirited by the impact of Rabbi Matondo and Fashion Sakala who brought a needed directness to the Rangers attack and caused Liverpool problems in their cameo appearances.

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