Rangers were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Liverpool as the club continued to toil at Champions League level – but if it hadn’t been for Allan McGregor, it would’ve been by much more.
The veteran Ibrox stopper might be 40 years old but there can be no doubting who is the Ibrox number one from here on out this season after a magnificent performance at Anfield.
It’s just a shame his teammates couldn’t muster the fight and application required to at least inflict a blow on a wounded Liverpool who’re stuttering along this season.
But Rangers once again looked a little shell-shocked on the elite stage as several players’ continued their insular performances and frustrated fans continue to voice their displeasure at the laboured tactics of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Heroic Allan McGregor display prevent Liverpool Rangers hammering
The Dutchman can point to the disparity in finances and to the fact both goals were lost from set pieces – Trent Alexander Arnold netting a free-kick and Mo Salah scoring a penalty in a 2-0 defeat – but had it not been for Allan McGregor this almost certainly would not have been the case.
The veteran goalkeeper thwarted Uruguayan enigma Darwin Nunez an astonishing four times in the first half, halted Mo Salah and pulled off a genuinely world class save against Diego Jota in the second.
It contributed to an increased xG valuation for Liverpool in the match, the metric finishing at 2.93g for Liverpool with Rangers managing a meagre 0.42g.
This could have and probably should’ve been more for last season’s beaten finalists as Rangers continue to look bereft of ideas, confidence and application at Champions League level.
But if there is one positive to take from the game it is Allan McGregor’s performance with the Rangers stopper extinguishing the embers of any Jon McLaughlin-based debate.
After his stellar showing against Liverpool, one wonders how things might’ve gone at Celtic Park earlier in the season had it been Allan McGregor instead of Jon McLaughlin between the sticks.
Meanwhile, Rangers murmurs around a Premier League rival are surely a wind-up given the bad blood between all parties involved.
