Liverpool 4-0 Rangers: It all ends in Jeers for Rangers

Rangers 0

Liverpool 4

Torres 23, Ngog 57, Benayoun 60, Alonso 71

BOOING before the game and more of the same after it. The initial burst – once again directed at Kenny Miller – may continue to irk Walter Smith, but judging by his post-match remarks he has a better understanding of the jeering which followed yesterday's humbling by Liverpool.

Out-played throughout the 90 minutes, with spells in the second half proving embarrassing, he acknowledged his men were still some way short of finding their best form.

"The basic problem we have is getting back to the level of play that will allow us to compete," he said and when the disparity in finance north and south of the border was offered up as a possible excuse, he refused to take the easy way out. "It's been the same for years but we have shown we are able to compete in a better manner before. In the past we have handled these teams better, even in pre-season last year. The fact is we are not reaching the same levels we did last season."

His opposite number, Rafael Benitez, said his side would prove a handful for most teams if they could retain possession the way they had at Ibrox, fully aware of the prowess and threat his men pose in offensive positions. They were certainly too much for Rangers to contend with.

When the teams were announced, Kenny Miller was again subjected to some jeering from the home support but once the game got under way at least he was in decent company as Republic of Ireland international Robbie Keane was also the focus of the boo-boys. By the end of the match, it was the whole Rangers team who were on the receiving end, though.

For all that Miller has struggled to earn a decent welcome from the Rangers fans, some who are unwilling to forgive him signing for Celtic, others who simply don't believe he has a good enough goal-scoring ratio, when the best chance of the afternoon was squandered, it was the man who had received the loudest welcome pre-match, Nacho Novo, who was responsible.

With the final few seconds of the first half ebbing away, he had the chance to equalise after Miller played a cute pass through the Anfield rearguard and into the box for the Spaniard to run on to. But having put in the hard work, beating the offside trap and then keeper Diego Cavalieri to send the ball trundling goalwards, he then tried to make sure.

However, all his interference succeeded in doing was allow Andrea Dossena time to get back and slide along the goal line to block.

By that stage Liverpool were a goal to the good and it was the closest Rangers came to establishing any kind of scoreline parity with their English Premier League guests.

They had taken the lead in the 23rd minute when Fernando Torres proved he was the sharpest man in the box. A long-range effort had been rifled in at Allan McGregor by Damien Plessis. The sting in the shot bettered the Rangers No.1, who could only palm it down and the Spanish striker stole in ahead of the Rangers defenders to bury it into the net.

The warnings had been there, though – the movement and pace of the Liverpool goal-scorer being a constant irritant to the slower centre-half pairing of David Weir and Kirk Broadfoot. In the 16th minute Weir had only just managed to do enough to put Torres off when the ball had been played in by Donessa, while Broadfoot had to make a crucial block on the edge of the box from the same player after a neat one-two with Keane. But by then it was becoming a tougher afternoon for the Glasgow side.

At this stage last year they had beaten Chelsea to set themselves up for the new season but 12 months on and with a 0-0 draw the best they could muster at home against FB Kaunas midweek, they were to become mere cannon fodder for Benitez's rampant side as the game progressed.

As has become the norm with pre-season fixtures, there was a raft of changes at half-time, with the visitors taking off Torres along with four of his first-half colleagues but if Rangers thought that would render their task any easier, they were to be mistaken.

Walter Smith also made some switches, sending on Charlie Adam, Jean Claude Darcheville, Andy Webster, Christian Dailly and Dean Furman, for David Weir, Sasa Papac, Kevin Thomson, Lee McCulloch and Miller and the newcomers were given a torrid 45 minutes.

Thirteen minutes into the second half and it was unlucky for some. Well, unlucky for Broadfoot. The centre half played a silly short ball out of defence and with no blue shirts about, it was an easy pick up for half-time substitute David Ngog. The French youngster has a keen eye for goal and didn't need to be asked twice to have a pop towards the sticks, his excellent effort from outside the box leaving McGregor with little chance.

Three minutes later and it was 3-0. Having only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes, Emiliano Insua got to the bye-line and picked out his fellow sub Christian Nemeth, who drove his shot at the Rangers goal. This time McGregor managed to palm it away but it was Yossi Benayoun who was the man charging in at the back post and this time the keeper had no riposte.

By then the Rangers fans were growing increasingly disgruntled but worse was to come – even if it was slightly harsh.

In the 71st minute, as Liverpool swarmed all over the Scottish side, Broadfoot stretched out a leg as Nemeth broke through and although the attacker made the most if it, going down in stages, it was decreed a penalty by referee Craig Thomson and Xabi Alonso finished decisively from the spot.

If some of the 50,233 crowd who had packed into Ibrox had filtered out after the third goal, they left in droves after the fourth. Those who remained voiced their frustration at the final whistle but they weren't telling Smith anything he didn't already know.

Rangers: McGregor, Weir, Papac, Hemdani, Thomson, Novo, McCulloch, Miller, Broadfoot, Lafferty, Whittaker. Subs: Alexander, Boyd, Adam, Darcheville, Webster, Dailly, Bougherra, Velicka, Furman.

Liverpool:

Caclieri, Dossena, Skrtel, Keane, Gerrard, Torres, Plessis, Benayoun, Arbeloa, Kuyt, Carragher. Subs: Reina, Hyypia, Agger, Darby, Alonso, Pennant, Spearing, Meneth, Ngog, Insua.

OVERVIEW

MAN OF THE MATCH

Few in the Rangers jersey could be considered candidates but a number of the 21 Liverpool players involved could. Andrea Dossena almost got the nod for his forays upfield and willingness to get involved in attacks, while also holding firm at the back. But the 45-minute contribution of David Ngog, right, was enough for him to pinch the accolade.

QUICK FACT

Not everyone was unimpressed with the poor behaviour of Rangers who travelled to the Uefa Cup final. The Liverpool fans unfurled a banner which read: 'Thank you Rangers for your efforts in destroying Manchester.'


TALKING POINT

Kenny Miller was again booed when the stadium announcer called out Rangers team.