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Giovanni van Bronckhorst says the gap in quality between Rangers and Liverpool was “obvious”, though he vowed the Scottish Premiership side will learn from a comfortable defeat to the Reds.
Rangers have shipped nine goals in three Champions League games after a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Tuesday, which saw Van Bronckhorst’s side remain bottom of Group A at the halfway point.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah struck in either half at Anfield as Rangers failed to find the net in their first three Champions League games for the first time ever.
While Rangers offered little in the way of challenging Alisson, barring a late chance for substitute Rabbi Matondo, Van Bronckhorst hopes his side will use the defeat as a lesson.
“The gap is obvious, we are competing against one of the best sides in Europe – it doesn’t mean you have to lose the game,” the Rangers manager told reporters.
“We competed well at times, set-pieces we defended really well. My team will learn from this game, I will learn, my players will and we will take this experience into the next game and also into the league.
“It was an experience we had again in the Champions League, it is a league we want to compete in but it is really, really hard against the teams we are facing now.
“It is experience, we did better than the first game but it is a level where you have to think quicker, pass quicker and move quicker.
“There were many moments where we won the ball but then we lost it, that is what we are facing at the moment and we need to improve in the next three games.
“The margin for error is very small against these great teams. It is everything you know, tactically, technically – first touches, movements, identifying movements when to speed up the games.
“We are doing so much better and my team will only improve. If that is enough to go through in Europe then we will take it.”
A two-goal loss arguably flattered Rangers, who were thankful to the efforts of goalkeeper Allan McGregor after the veteran made eight saves during a fine individual performance.
“McGregor performed really well, he can perform on this level – especially the first half he had some good saves,” Van Bronckhorst added.
“It was very positive to see his performance, also Leon King – an 18-year-old defender from the academy – and Ben Davies with his first 70 minutes of the season coming back to Liverpool he did well. There are always positives to take.”
Rangers will look to make amends against Liverpool in the return fixture next Wednesday, with Van Bronckhorst’s side trailing third-place Ajax by four points in a battle for Europa League qualification.
