Allan McGregor produced an epic display to limit Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night - but the veteran goalkeeper couldn’t prevent Rangers from suffering a third straight Champions League defeat.
Fielding four forwards in a change of formation, Jurgen Klopp’s side took the lead after just seven minutes when Trent Alexander-Arnold swept in a magnificent free-kick after Ben Davies fouled Darwin Nunez.
McGregor kept the scoreline down with a string of excellent stops but was beaten for a second time eight minutes into the second period. Mo Salah coolly netted from the penalty spot, following a foul on Luis Diaz by Ibrox youngster Leon King, to seal a comfortable victory.
Operating with a back five, Rangers only posed a real threat in the final five minutes. Rabbi Matondo saw an effort expertly cleared off the line by Kostas Tsimikas before fellow substitute Antonio Colak had a close-range shot blocked.
The result leaves Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men still looking for their first goal or point in Group A ahead of next Wednesday’s rematch against Liverpool at Ibrox.
Van Bronckhorst praised McGregor, saying: ‘He performed really well. We knew their line-up had so many attacking options with a lot of speed and creativity.
‘That showed in the first half. I think we did well as a defence and also Alan as well to save some chances.
‘Of course we can take some lessons back to Ibrox. This is a level we haven’t played at for many years.
‘If you see our first three games, I think our development has been positive although the result wasn’t.’
Speaking on BT Sport, Rangers legend Ally McCoist lavished praise on 40-year-old McGregor for ensuring his team left Merseyside without suffering a far heavier defeat.
‘Jordan Henderson was out of this world, Alexander-Arnold was out of this world but, arguably, believe it or not, the man of the match might have been the Rangers goalkeeper,’ insisted McCoist.
‘He was beaten by a free-kick that was out of this world, he was beaten by a penalty but, if it wasn’t for Allan McGregor, it could have been a far bigger scoreline, that’s for sure.’
McCoist also felt Rangers played into Liverpool’s hands through their set up, adding: ‘I think he (van Bronckhorst) will be disappointed in his team as an attacking force.
‘I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. He took a tactical gamble by going five at the back which is alright if you can keep the ball but the limited numbers up front meant we did not see much of Rangers as an attacking force - and I’d expect that to change in the next game.
‘Rangers didn’t do themselves justice? You’re absolutely right. It was interesting as the game developed. The second goal is the perfect example of it. Kent got the ball in the wide left-hand side position. I think for the first time in the game he got in a one-v-one situation with Alexander-Arnold and I’m thinking: “Go and take him on, get into the penalty box. Anything can happen”.
He didn’t do that and two minutes later the ball is up the other end of the park and Diaz does exactly that - he runs at (James) Tavernier and then King and he gets the penalty. And that’s the big difference.
‘Listen, Trent Alexander-Arnold was fantastic going forward but it was a good game for him to play in particular, with the lack of Rangers as an attacking force and with Jordan Henderson filling in the gaps for him superbly.’