FORM is temporary, class is permanent. That mindset offers encouragement to Rangers but should act as a warning just as much.
At their best, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side are a match for anyone at a certain level of European competition. Unfortunately for the Dutchman, Liverpool are capable of blowing any team on the continent away when they are in the mood.
That hasn’t been the case on many occasions this term and a wretched night in Napoli stands out as the worst of the lot in a campaign that has had several stumbles in the Premier League already. A tally of ten points from seven matches is not title challenging form and the criticisms and questions are mounting on boss Jurgen Klopp.
Van Bronckhorst knows how the German feels. He has had to take his fair share of flak already this term and a heavy defeat at Anfield would change the narrative once again just days after the signs of encouragement in the win over Hearts.
This Group A fixture – a Battle of Britain clash and the first meeting between these two historic clubs – is intriguing on many levels. It would be hard to bet against a home win, but there is an unpredictability about both that puts a slight doubt in the mind.
“Well, it’s a good game then,” Van Bronckhorst laughed when it was suggested that nobody really knows what to expect from either side at Anfield. “The game could go all the way! It’s the beauty of football.
“Of course we didn’t start well in Europe, but the last two results we had in the league were very positive for us. For Liverpool it was a result they didn’t want on Saturday, but still it’s a great side.
“Sometimes it’s the beauty of the game when you don’t know what to expect. But form is also temporary and can change in one game.
“We have to be prepared. If the form of Liverpool changes we have to be prepared.”
Rangers have not had their troubles to seek this season but fine wins over Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig on the road to Seville, and their impressive triumph away to PSV Eindhoven to reach the group stages, offers proof of what they are capable of. Winning here would be the most remarkable result of them all.
The heavy defeats to Ajax and Napoli leave Van Bronckhorst’s side bottom of the group. Once again, the Ibrox boss needs the form book to go out the window at Anfield.
Van Bronckhorst said: “We lost our first games and it means we don’t have any points. We know the challenge we face against a really, really good side. We want to have results and that’s what we have to do.
“Of course we have to look at ourselves but we are going to come here to have a good result, that is our intention and it always has to be.
“It is going to be very difficult. It is a team who perform really well in the Premier League, they were in three finals in the last five years.
“I think they are still one of the best teams in Europe. If you look at all the opponents we faced last season in Europe and also this season this is probably the strongest side.”
The challenge of overcoming Liverpool is as ominous as the chance to do it is inspiring and Rangers should relish the opportunity to make history rather than fear what it is to follow at this famous arena.
The win at Tynecastle on Saturday was an important step in terms of the Premiership title race. On the same afternoon, Liverpool were held by Brighton and Hove Albion.
There would be no better time than the present for the Reds to find a spark that can kick-start their season. There are few finer stages than this for Rangers to use as inspiration.
Van Bronckhorst said: “It is a huge podium for us to perform, not only for the club but for the players. It is against a quality side.
“It is many years since there has been a Scottish team playing against an English team and it’s the first time we have faced each other in our histories.
“These are all good things to look forward to. We are excited to be here and to look forward to getting a good result.
“There are always things to exploit. Any team has those areas you can exploit. They didn’t have a good result last Saturday but we are still going to prepare for a Liverpool team that is really good.
“They have all the strengths they need to perform at this level. Form says nothing. They have quality players, a good team, a fantastic coach, we are preparing for the best Liverpool we can face.”
There seems little doubt that Liverpool will rise to the occasion at Anfield. If they do so, then Rangers could be in for a long, difficult evening.
Chances will be at a premium, the requirement to take the ones that come along even more important than usual and the man chosen to lead the line, either Alfredo Morelos or Antonio Colak, will have significant pressure on his shoulders.
“The decision is not difficult because you always look at the opponent and how you want to play and what kind of game we expect it to be, and then we choose the best option,” Van Bronckhorst said when asked about the call over who leads the line. “It’s good because both are in a really position at the moment.
“Antonio has scored a lot of goals in the league and Morelos when he came in also. They are two different kinds of strikers but we will always look at the game ahead.”
