IN the 14 seasons that he spent playing in England with Leeds United, Norwich City, Hull City, West Ham, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Luton, Robert Snodgrass faced all of the top Premier League teams away from home.
The former Scotland internationalist, who returned to his homeland last month when he signed with Hearts for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign, enjoyed many noteworthy results too.
But success always eluded him against one particular side at one particular stadium – Liverpool at Anfield.
The forward has travelled to face the Reds on Merseyside on four occasions over the years and has ended up on the losing side, often after a trouncing, every time.
Snodgrass, who made his home Hearts debut during the 4-0 defeat to Rangers at Tynecastle on Saturday, has warned the Glasgow club they will play their third Champions League group game at the hardest venue in British football tomorrow night.
He believes if Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side, who are bottom of Group A after defeats to Ajax away and Napoli at home, are to get a result against Jurgen Klopp’s team they must make a strong start and silence the renowned home support.
“Anfield is probably one of the toughest places I’ve ever been,” he said. “The atmosphere they create there, especially on a big European night, is really special. It’s impressive enough even just watching the games, but something else when you play them there.
“I’ve played Liverpool at Anfield a few times and it’s a very difficult place to go, even when you do well. I actually did my ankle there celebrating with West Ham, so that wasn’t great. I was playing against Andy Robertson (his old Hull team mate) as well, so that’s always good.
“Liverpool and Man City are the two teams who are the very highest level, above every other side. If you get a result against them, you’ve done very well.”
Snodgrass continued: “Rangers will know how tough it can be there. Liverpool haven’t started this season exactly the way they’d have wanted to. It’s two big clubs going at it. But, if Liverpool are at it, it will be a tough night for Rangers.
“They’ll want to get the crowd quiet, give a good account of themselves and show that they’re capable of playing at the very highest level of the Champions League.
“They had a great run in Europe last year, they’ve done really well. So there’s no doubt Rangers will head to Anfield believing they can get something from the game. It will be a good watch.”
The 28-times capped 35-year-old thinks it is crucial that James Tavernier and his team mates match the physicality of Jordan Henderson and his fellow players, who have won just one of their last four matches, to pull off an upset.
“Down south, the big thing is the size of the players,” he said. “Some of them are huge. And a lot of Scottish lads going down there say that, it takes a few months to adjust to the size.
Snodgrass expects Liverpool, who were beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris back in May, to take the threat Europa League finalists Rangers pose seriously despite being strong favourites to prevail.
“I wouldn’t say there’s any snootiness in England about Scottish football,” he said. “No, definitely not. Anybody who has come up here has found it very difficult, because it’s a very fit league.
“But everyone in English football loves the Old Firm, they respect the Scottish game and recognise that it’s getting better and better.”
“There is no chance of Liverpool taking Rangers lightly. No chance. Rangers are a big name, everyone knows what they did in reaching the Europa League Final last year. And just look at the size of the club.
“With the fans travelling down there, they will be expecting Rangers to go out there to compete – and believing that they can win.”
