Liverpool and the English football “tourist league” have come in for criticism from Rangers fans for their lack of atmosphere – and Borna Barisic has just turned the screw.
The Rangers support showed the power of Ibrox Stadium last season as the Gers fans proved a 12th man in the Ibrox club’s race to the Europa League Final.
There’s no doubting the raucous power of the famous ground on the right occasion but Scottish football fans have regularly lambasted the atmospheres on show down south.
There have been some huge nights at Anfield and for Liverpool in the past but as the stands are diluted with tourists and ordinary fans are priced out, they’re getting fewer and further between.
Rangers fans have their own criticisms of the Ibrox MyGers away ticket situation, which many believe doesn’t properly award loyalty and is in fact hampering the Ibrox away support’s influence, but the trip to Anfield has plenty questioning the stadium’s historic allure.
Rangers star Borna Barisic on Liverpool atmosphere
Rangers defender Borna Barisic has been out speaking about the atmosphere at Liverpool and the defender insists there is nowhere quite like home when it comes to generating a noise.
Off the back of van Bronckhorst’s comments regarding an Ajax date with destiny on matchday six, Rangers realistically need something from the Reds’ trip to Govan next week.
Barisic is backing the Rangers fans to deliver and let’s hope it spurs on the side in their hunt for a spot in the Europa League after Christmas.
“Liverpool are a top team. But we are growing, we are learning and I think we will be much better at Ibrox. It is our home, our crowd. They are a 12th player for us,” said Borna [Football Scotland].
“The atmosphere is still the best by far for me. With all due respect to everyone, I thought Anfield had a good atmosphere. But for me personally, not just because I am playing at Rangers, it wasn’t better than Ibrox.
“Maybe it’s because I have played in so many big games, played on so many big nights, but for me Ibrox is the best still.
“Of course we feel that we can finish third. The next game will be important. When we play at home it will be a little bit easier for us.
“But we also need to realise that all these teams play in front of away crowds, in front of 50,000, 60,000, 70,000 people. They are used to it. But we will fight to the end and try to go at least into the Europa League.”
Rangers sit bottom of Champions League Group A after losing their opening three games without scoring a goal, with the Gers realistically needing something at Ibrox next week to stand any chance of European football after Christmas.
Meanwhile, one Ibrox international has been on the receiving end of criticism for a perceived lack of commitment at Rangers.
