Giovanni van Bronckhorst has saluted his Rangers players after defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League.
Jurgen Klopp's men ran out 2-0 winners in the first of two Battle of Britain clashes with the duo set to go head to head once again at Ibrox next week. Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick and Mo Salah's penalty proved to be the difference on the night after a series of stunning saves from Allan McGregor to keep the away side in the contest.
Defeat means three losses in three games in the Champions League section with Napoli and Ajax also picking up three points against the Ibrox men in earlier group games. But despite defeat in this one, the Dutchman was proud of the character his side showed and the will to keep going. He also hailed their defending from set pieces as he turns attentions to St Mirren in the Premiership before Liverpool come to town, despite criticisms in the immediate aftermath that his side were too passive.
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Speaking on BT Sport, he said: "It is always frustrating when you lose. It was a hard game for us. They started as we expected. A lot of waves of fast attacking football. We did reasonably well.
"I think he took the free-kick really well. After that we stayed in the game. As long as it is 1-0. The second half we did better in the moments we could press and go forward. In these moments, especially in the end after the penalty we had some chances to score.
"I think the players did really well, showed character and kept going. We defended set pieces really well, that was a positive, but the most important thing the result, is not positive.
"For us, it is a level we haven't competed in for many years. I think these games will improve us as a team. If you see our first three games, our development has been positive, although the result wasn't. We have become better as a team.
"We will take the experience we have now into the league. There it is two points difference and we have to keep going and it starts again on Saturday against St Mirren.
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