RANGERS fans can expect Steven Gerrard’s team to play the same exciting brand of attack-minded football as Liverpool have produced under Jurgen Klopp next season.
That was the confident prediction earlier today from the first manager to square up to Gerrard’s new-look Gers side.
Scott Ruscoe took The New Saints to Glasgow yesterday for a closed-doors friendly at the Hummel Training Centre.
The Welsh champions were on the receiving end of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of their Scottish counterparts in the pre-season fixture.
But Ruscoe believes the workout was ideal preparation for his side’s double header against Macedonian champions Shkendija in the Champions League first qualifying round.
The lifelong Liverpool supporter was impressed with how Rangers acquitted themselves and tipped them to perform in a similar style to the Anfield club in the 2018/19 campaign.
The Premier League giants reached the final of Europe’s premier club competition last term playing in a 4-3-3 formation and with German coach Klopp placing a definite emphasis on attack.
Ruscoe can see Gerrard, who was the under-18 coach at Liverpool before he agreed to be-come Rangers manager back in May, deploying the same tactics in future.
“His Rangers team play in a similar style to Liverpool,” he said. “The formation is the same. He has clearly picked up how he wants his team to set up, in a 4-3-3, from his old club.
“They are also very attack-minded as well. They move the ball very quickly and use their wide players.
“I thought they were very good in possession of the ball, they passed it quickly, especially in the second-half when they changed to a stronger team.
"I am sure they will be coached to play in an exciting manner. I am sure Steven will want his side to play in a similar style to how he himself played the game.”
“They have a solid back four and I am sure they will have a strong midfield when Steven knows his best starting line-up.”
Ruscoe added: “They had a few of their new signings playing, Scott Arfield and Connor Goldson, and a few of their older players, Josh Windass and Alfredo Morelos who played very well.
“They have experienced players with a lot of quality. James Tavernier played, Declan John was involved and Jon Flanagan came on as well. They had a lot of strong players.
“It was a tough test. We did a lot of defending, but we are going to be doing that in Europe anyway. It was an invaluable workout for the players.
“The gulf in resources and class means it is always going to be a difficult tie for us, but it was very worthwhile for us as I’m sure it was for them.
“Playing a club like Rangers in the first or second game of the season was good for our preparation.
"Since being in Scotland and I have been able to sense the excitement there is about Steven Gerrard taking over at Rangers - I am sure nobody will be disappointed."
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