James Tavernier doesn’t need to look too far for advice on what’s lying in store for Rangers at Anfield tonight.
A quick call to his wee brother is all that’s required. Marcus Tavernier had only just arrived as a summer signing at Bournemouth when the Premier League new boys arrived on Merseyside at the end of August. They made the long trip back to the south coast with tails between legs after a nine goal annihilation - a horror story of a result which cost manager Scott Parker his job.
And that warning was ringing in the ears of the Ibrox skipper yesterday as he led his team mates out onto the same pitch ahead of a daunting Battle of Britain in the Champions League. Tavernier recalled: “I obviously spoke to Marcus soon after that game. I just wanted to ask him about the comparisons between Liverpool and Manchester City. And basically he said that whenever they had a shot it was a goal.
“This is the level that you are playing against - world class players - and if you give them a chance, eight or nine times out of 10 it is going to be in the back of the net.
“So we have just got to try and limit those chances. That’s what we’ve got to do - try to limit the chances and put our own stamp on it.”
Easier said than done, perhaps. But Rangers crossed the border yesterday, itching for a chance to turn this European campaign around after back-to-back defeats in their opening two games against Ajax and Napoli.
Perform as timidly as they did in Amsterdam and it could become another painful experience for these players. But Tavernier believes the penny dropped that night in Holland.
He went on: “We learnt our lesson in Amsterdam. We probably gave them too much respect when they had the ball. It was night and day performance when we played against Napoli. If there was not a red card that game could’ve been seen very differently.
“But we went toe to toe and competed and if we had kept 11 men the scoreline would have been different. That is what we have to do going forward is really compete with the teams and not sit back.”
And yet a balance will have to be struck if Rangers are to come out of this one with any Group A points. And with pride intact.
With so many dangermen lurking in red shirts, Tavernier knows this is neither the time nor the place to throw caution to the wind.
He nodded: “It’s a bit of both, we have to be brave on the ball. We know they’ve got one of the best front threes in the world and we have to try and keep them quiet as best we can and put our stamp on the game to create our chances.
“That’s what we will be looking to do. I’m sure they’ll have a lot of the ball being at home but we’re going to look to try and frustrate them and be brave on the ball when we do get it.
“We don’t just want to take part in this competition. We want to establish ourselves in this competition and go toe-to-toe with the giants of Europe.
“That requires us to be competing in every aspect of the game as we did against Napoli. We have to go toe-to-toe with Liverpool.
“Our aim is to continue playing European football after Christmas. To do that we need to take points and we need to get points the best way we can. Hopefully, we can get a result.
“I’m really looking forward to it. To be competing against one of the best English teams who have played in three of the last five Champions League finals is something to relish and be really up for.”
And, as an Englishman captaining his side under the lights at Anfield - not to mention a family grudge to settle - Tavernier has more reason than most to feel the excitement levels build.
He went on: “I think the last time I came here was 10 years ago in a youth cup semi-final which I was in the stands for because I was just part of the squad. To come back here, with it all changed. It’s a special stadium and I know all the boys can’t wait.
"I’m really looking forward to it. I was very surprised to learn we have not been down here before but, yes, it will be a proud moment to captain the side and not only with it being a big Champions League night but also going back down to England and playing against one of the biggest teams down here. It will be very special but I am sure it will be very special for everyone.”
And a positive result would turn a special night into a magical one for Tavernier and his team mates. Which is why the captain is thrilled to see strikers Antonio Colak and Alfredo Morelos battling it out to lead the attack. One of them might just secure lifetime hero status by firing a winner tonight.
And Tavernier said: “At the minute we have two strikers in really good form and that obviously gives the boss a headache to select one of the two.
“Alfredo is obviously getting to where he wants to be with his fitness and recovering from his injuries and the operation he had. “He has been working really hard on the training pitch and it has been proved on the weekend coming on and getting his goal.
“He offers us goals. That’s what both of our strikers have been doing- scoring goals. Hopefully I can be of service to them tomorrow and anyone else given the chance can put the ball in the back of the net.”
READ NEXT
