Giovanni van Bronckhorst has insisted Rangers can still secure European football after Christmas despite losing their third straight Group A game.
A sobering 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, which could have been worse but for the heroism of goalkeeper Allan McGregor, left the Ibrox side without points or goals in their Champions League campaign.
However, Napoli’s stunning 6-1 victory over Ajax in Amsterdam leaves the Europa League finalists just three points clear of the Dutch giants, who they will face in their final game at Ibrox on November 1.
Rangers struggled in the game, but goalkeeper Allan McGregor had a great game
Speaking after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick and Mo Salah penalty broke McGregor’s resistance, Van Bronckhorst challenged his side to get enough points against Liverpool at home and Napoli away on matchdays four and five to make the game against Ajax a third-place play-off. place and a place in the Europa League.
“It’s a very, very tough group with top teams,” the Rangers boss said.
“You see big defeats in this group stage and that means the results have to come to us in the next two games. It’s the only thing we can still have. The chance to play against Ajax in the final game with a chance to qualify for Europe after the break.
The decision to restore McGregor as No.1 ahead of Jon McLaughlin was vindicated by a series of stunning saves from the 40-year-old.
Trent Alexander-Arnold gave Liverpool an early lead with a spectacular free kick
Alexander-Arnold’s sublime free-kick after seven minutes gave the visitors an uphill battle.
McGregor’s brilliance kept them going until 18-year-old Leon King conceded a penalty on his first Champions League start after 53 minutes. Salah stepped in to convert.
Rangers had their best chances in the final minutes when substitutes Rabbi Matondo and Antonio Colak tested Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
“Of course it’s disappointing to lose two goals from set pieces,” said Van Bronckhorst. “We had a few chances to make it 2-1, a ball was cleared from the line. Maybe we could have gotten something more out of the game.
Mo Salah doubled Liverpool’s lead with a cool second-half penalty
“I think we have improved in the Champions League since the first game.
“We knew it would be a very tough game with the attacking threat they have. They have players who make runs almost every time they have the ball in space. The plan to have five at the back was good for reducing those gaps.
“We knew it was going to be difficult when they are playing at high speed, with fast passing. We were still in the game at half-time with a single goal difference.
“We identified the moments in the second half much better to get higher up the pitch and put the pressure on them.” But the level we are up against is very high and the level we had today was not enough to get anything out of the match.
The Egyptian winger has now scored in ten consecutive Champions League appearances.
Rangers had hoped to capitalize on a crisis of confidence in Liverpool’s ranks. However, with the home side’s athleticism, speed and movement on a different level, any prospect of a clash was ruled out after seven minutes.
“Don’t forget the opposition we face here,” the Rangers boss said. “Everyone was saying, ‘Liverpool are not in good form, it’s going to be an easy game’, but today you see the level they can reach. The gap is glaring. Look at the teams we both have. We face one of the best teams in Europe.
Praising McGregor for his heroism, Van Bronckhorst said: “He performed very well. We know he can perform at this level. Especially in the first half – and in the second half he made some good saves. Very positive too from Leon King, an 18-year-old academy defender who played well. He was one of our best defenders.
“Ben Davies, his performance too. He only played 70 minutes of the season and, coming back to Liverpool, he performed very well.
“There are always positives to take from this game.”
Giovanni van Bronckhorst thinks Rangers can hunt Ajax for third in the group
Napoli remained top of Group A after their 6-1 demolition of Ajax in Amsterdam.
Mohammed Kudus gave the home side the lead in the ninth minute but the roof then collapsed on Alfred Schreuder’s side.
Giacomo Raspadori equalized before Giovanni Di Lorenzo put Napoli ahead just after the half-hour mark.
Another goal from Piotr Zielinski on the stroke of half-time sent Ajax faltering. Raspadori scored his second just after the break and then Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added his fifth.
Dusan Tadic was sent off in the 73rd minute before Giovanni Simeone netted Napoli’s sixth.