Leighton Clarkson loved the rough and tumble of derby clashes with Liverpool - even just in the youth ranks. Despite his tender years the Aberdeen loanee already has 90 minutes of Champions League experience with Jurgen Klopp’s top team under his belt too.
So forget any notion of lamb to the slaughter when the Anfield ace enters the bear pit for one of the Scottish Premiership ’s most volatile fixtures when Aberdeen head to Ibrox this afternoon. Clarkson, who only turned 21 last week, has been fully briefed on the needle that accompanies fixtures between the Dons and Rangers.
And it’s the perfect platform for the competitive midfielder who, to date, counts a Champions League group match away to Midtjylland two years ago as the biggest 90 minutes of his career. Klopp’s side drew that one 1-1 thanks to Mo Salah’s first minute goal as they secured a top of the group passage into knockout stages. That tie in the Danish side’s quaint 11,700-capacity MCH Arena may have had all the glamour attached to Europe’s top competition.
