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Alan Galindo

Mark Hateley on Ryan Kent's Rangers point to prove vs Liverpool and his difference maker for Anfield

Mark Hateley reckons Ryan Kent will have a point to prove against Liverpool as he backed Allan McGregor to be the difference maker at Anfield.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men face a Battle of Britain clash tonight as they bid to get off the mark in the Champions League. They've lost both outings to date against Ajax and Napoli, conceding seven goals and hitting zero. They face a Reds side who are out of form with just ten points from seven English Premier League games. They played out a 3-3 draw with Brighton at the weekend while the Light Blues go into this one off the back of a big 4-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle.

Kent grabbed his first goal of the season with a stunning effort past Craig Gordon and Hateley reckons that will do his confidence the world of good ahead of his battle with Trent Alexander Arnold.

READ MORE: Key Celtic and Rangers incidents under Ref Watch microscope as Dermot Gallagher delivers verdict

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He told Grosvenor Sport : "The Liverpool clash is a great game for Ryan Kent to play, he has a point to prove and I think he can own up to this one when I say that it hasn't been a good season for him so far.

"The numbers he’s producing have been low, but coming on at the weekend and scoring a goal will do his confidence the world of good. Players like Ryan thrive off confidence and he can take that to Anfield.

"Playing against Trent Alexander-Arnold will be a great opportunity for Kent to be taking Trent Alexander Arnold on a football journey so let's hope that can happen."

On McGregor, he added: "Alan McGregor can be the difference maker against Liverpool. He has a big voice and personality. You need that, You need people who aren't afraid to open their mouths and call people out.

"He is that sort of person and leader and Rangers need that. He backs that up by making world-class saves. He signed that extra year to play in the big leagues like the Champions League, and rightly so. Connor Goldson and the back four will be pleased."

Liverpool have been leaking goals with nine conceded in the league with a further five in the Champions League to date.

Hateley believes should Rangers be defensively sound and organised they can exploit a vulnerable backline as the key is to hit them on the break when they are on the front foot.

He continued: "You can never say no in football. Brighton went to Anfield at the weekend and you wouldn’t have thought it was going to be 3-3. That's the crazy sort of results that defy the odds.

"But for Liverpool playing at Anfield, you can’t concede three goals. That should be the team talk. They need to be defensively organised without the ball, that's the key because on the front foot, Liverpool are vulnerable and leaking goals."

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