Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

What happened to the four Liverpool players Steven Gerrard signed for Rangers

mirror.co.uk, 4 October 2022, 10:27
Gerrard spent almost three-and-a-half years at Rangers, leading them to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021, frequently raiding former club Liverpool to boost his squad Ryan Kent has proven to be the best addition Gerrard made from Liverpool

Liverpool will host Rangers on Tuesday night in the Champions League, in what will also be the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs.

Despite never playing each other before, there have been strong links between the two sides over the years. That was especially the case during Steven Gerrard 's three-and-a-half-year spell in charge at Ibrox.

The Reds legend used his former club to boost his squad on several occasions, leading to a famous Scottish Premiership title win in 2021.

Here, Mirror Football looks at the four Liverpool players who spent time at Rangers during Gerrard's time in charge.

Jon Flanagan

The first of the Liverpool players Gerrard brought to Ibrox was Jon Flanagan, with the full-back a regular in his first season in Scotland. But a hernia injury derailed his second campaign, with the Englishman making just nine appearances before he was released in 2020.

"I thanked him [Gerrard] for giving me the opportunity to spend two years at Ibrox and told him I'd had a great time working with him. There are no hard feelings. At my age, I need to be playing regular football. If I wasn't going to get that chance at Rangers it makes sense for us to go our separate ways," he later told The Athletic.

Flanagan would join Belgian side Charleroi, though failed to make an appearance for Les Zèbres. He is now a free agent after a season-long spell at Danish second tier side HB Køge, where ex-Reds teammate Daniel Agger is manager.

HAVE YOUR SAY! What should be Liverpool's starting line-up against Rangers? Comment below.

Ovie Ejaria

Brought in on loan from Liverpool in 2018, Ovie Ejaria established himself as a regular starter under Gerrard at Rangers. But the manager was left disappointed when Ejaria opted to cut his stay at Ibrox short that December.

"Am I disappointed he's gone? Yes. Do I think it's the right decision? No, because I think he had an incredible opportunity here. It is what it is. I have to accept the decision. I'm sad about it, I wish him all the best," Gerrard said.

Ejaria joined Reading on loan a matter of weeks later, before spending the following season with the Royals as well. The midfielder made the move permanent in the summer of 2020 and remains with the Championship side, though has only made two appearances this season.

Ryan Kent

Clearly the most successful of Gerrard's signings from Liverpool has been Ryan Kent. After a fine loan spell in the 2018/2019 season, Kent moved to Ibrox in a £6.5million deal in the summer of 2019.

The winger has since established himself as a key player at the Scottish giants, scoring 31 goals and notching 51 assists in all competitions. But he is out of contract at the end of this season, with suggestions that he could look to move on.

Gerrard remains a huge fan of the 25-year-old, with multiple reports claiming he wants to bring him to Aston Villa in January. Kent is expected to line up for Rangers against Liverpool on Tuesday night, a chance for him to test himself against Premier League opposition.

Sheyi Ojo

Attacker Sheyi Ojo arrived for a season-long loan in the summer of 2019, but struggled to establish himself at Ibrox. He scored just five goals during his year in Scotland, before returning to Liverpool.

Ojo paid tribute to the Rangers fans, despite his difficult spell in Glasgow. He wrote on social media: "Best fans in the world no doubt. You guys gave me love and some moments in my life I'll never forget. Thank you."

The Englishman then had loan spells at Cardiff City and Millwall before being released by the Reds in the summer. He returned to the Bluebirds as a free agent, making 12 appearances for the Championship strugglers this term.

Read more

Top Liverpool stories

Four Liverpool stars to miss Brighton

How Liverpool are adapting to help Nunez

Klopp's pointed defence of Trent

Forgotten summer signing ready to return

Top News

18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord will look to end the 2023-24 Eredivisie season on a winning note when they host a struggling SBV Excelsior at De Kuip on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cadiz will attempt to send their survival fight to the final day of the season when they play host to Las Palmas in Sunday's La Liga contest. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta Rotterdam will play their final match at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel for the 2023-24 Eredivisie season this Sunday afternoon when they play host to a stuttering Heerenveen. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final match at MAC³PARK Stadion in the 2023-24 Eredivisie season will see PEC Zwolle playing host to Europa League hopefuls FC Twente on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wellington vs. Victory (Saturday, 7.30am) Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory square off in the second leg of the A-League Finals Series semi-finals on Saturday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly dropped their pursuits of Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and Lille's Leny Yoro. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Almere City and NEC draw the curtain on their respective 2023-24 Eredivisie seasons with a meeting at the Yanmar Stadion on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted he would like to manage in Spain at some point in his career. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AZ Alkmaar will be looking to pick up a fifth straight victory when they entertain the challenge of FC Utrecht at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With the chance to guarantee their La Liga survival ahead of the final day of the season, Celta Vigo will travel to Los Carmenes to meet already-relegated Granada on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Concluding a triumphant Ligue 1 campaign, Paris Saint-Germain head to the Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday to face a Metz side destined to scrap for survival in the relegation playoffs. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a major boost in their pursuit of summer target Teun Koopmeiners after Atalanta BC announced their asking price for his signature. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Le Havre are set to take on Marseille at Stade Oceane on Sunday evening in the final matchday of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva has signed a new contract to keep him at the club until at least 2025. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A highly-rated Arsenal academy prospect has confirmed that he will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Arsenal will need to act swiftly if they intend to capitalise on the release clause in Jeremie Frimpong's Bayer Leverkusen contract, according to a report. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea could be without as many as seven players for their final Premier League fixture of the season at home against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will endeavour to end the 2023-24 campaign on a high by qualifying for European competition when they welcome Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sevilla will look to bounce back from consecutive defeats when they travel to San Mames for Sunday's La Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea's Cole Palmer has won the Premier League's Young Player of the Season award for the 2023-24 season following an incredible breakthrough campaign. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sixth-placed Lens are set to take on 12th-placed Montpellier HSC in the final game of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday evening. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Galatasaray have the chance to seal the Turkish Super Lig title when they host arch-rivals and closest challengers Fenerbahce at Rams Park on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has confirmed that he is leaving the club at the end of the season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial are all training with Manchester United ahead of the team's final match of the 2023-24 Premier League season against Brighton & Hove Albion. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Napoli have reportedly entered the race to sign Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood during this summer's transfer window. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two midtable sides will go head-to-head when Alaves welcome Getafe to Mendizorroza for Saturday's La Liga contest. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Playing their final home fixture of a stellar Serie A season, champions Inter Milan welcome Lazio to San Siro on Sunday evening. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be without first-choice goalkeeper Ederson for Sunday's Premier League title decider against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For just the third time in the last 11 years, the Premier League title race will be decided on the final day, with reigning champions Manchester City looking to retain their crown at home against West Ham United on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale has reportedly agreed a move to Newcastle United during this summer's transfer window.