BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 21, 2018: Liverpool's Under-18 manager Steven Gerrard during the UEFA Youth League Quarter-Final match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Prenton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Steven Gerrard’s claim over Liverpool loanee bodes well for the future

Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria is “ready to burst” into life as he prepares to work with the loanee at Rangers in 2018/19.

Ejaria is one of many youngsters at Anfield finding it difficult to break into the first team, with the likes of Harry Wilson, Ben Woodburn and Marko Grujic in the same boat.

Jurgen Klopp has a wealth of experience and quality at his disposal, so loaning Ejaria out to Rangers made perfect sense.

The 20-year-old spent last season at Sunderland, but it proved to be a disappointing spell as the Black Cats were relegated to League One, amid much turmoil at the club.

Ejaria joins a much happier environment at Rangers, however, and in Gerrard he has the perfect role model to learn from as a No. 8.

The Liverpool legend is excited about what the silky midfielder can offer at Ibrox once he has got used to his new life, as he told RangersTV:

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - Tuesday, December 19, 2017: Liverpool's Oviemuno Ovie Ejaria during the Under-23 FA Premier League International Cup Group A match between Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven at Prenton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

“With Ovie I think it is important that the crowd give him a bit of time to come up and adapt to the surroundings.

“He will be coming up alone, without his family.

“He will be joining us in Spain [for pre-season] and we will work him in at the right time and speed.

“In terms of talent, in terms of someone who can get a fan on the edge of their seat, in terms of someone who has got tonnes of ability and is waiting for people to admire, we feel he is ready to burst.

“But, he will have to be managed and put in at the right time.

“He is one that I am confident can excite the fans here and I know what the fans want here, they want exciting players to watch.”

There is much eagerness ahead of the start of next season in Scotland, as Gerrard locks horns with Celtic and former manager Brendan Rodgers.

Rangers’ new boss will take charge of his first Old Firm derby on September 1 at Celtic Park, while his maiden competitive league match as manager comes away to Aberdeen on August 5.

That is followed by a home clash with St Mirren and a trip to Motherwell, before the aforementioned derby in his fourth game.

STOKE-ON-TRENT, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 9, 2017: Liverpool's manager Steven Gerrard ahead of an Under-18 FA Premier League match between Stoke City and Liverpool at the Clayton Wood Training Ground. (Pic by Laura Malkin/Propaganda)

It is going to be fascinating to see how Gerrard fares in his new role, having made the decision to leave Liverpool’s U18s last month.

Ejaria, meanwhile, has a great opportunity to showcase his talent and prove to Klopp that he is worth considering in the future.

He only recently extended his contract at Anfield, which does suggest he remains highly thought of at Liverpool.

More from This Is Anfield

Fan Comments