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He was no stranger to a long-range screamer during his own playing career, but Rangers boss Steven Gerrard insists that Kemar Roofe’s hit from the midline is the best he’s ever seen.
The forward came off the bench in Belgium to seal a fantastic Europa League victory, ignoring two men before shooting home from 55 yards.
And his coach paid the striker the highest compliment as he said he had never seen anything like it.
Gerrard praised: “The goal was a moment of genius, it was a world-class moment.
“I have played football professionally since 1998 and it is the best goal I have ever seen live with my own eyes.
“He picks up the ball 15 yards out of our area, he’s strong for two challenges, stops the player with the third challenge and then attacks him in the worst condition I’ve ever seen.”
“Then having the vision, the power and the class to score from 55 yards, I don’t think I’ve seen a better goal and I don’t think I can see a better goal.
“It is a very important victory to start the group in a positive way.”
Gerrard also reflected on the angry scenes at the end of the match in which the members of the dugouts and the players held each other down.
He said, “It’s a shame in the end.
“Kemar gets a yellow card for the incident, that’s up to me to talk to Kemar and deal with that situation.
“Standard’s reaction was disappointing, but we forgot it and moved on.”
The game hadn’t been particularly moody, so it came as a surprise to see the game go down to those scenes, but Gerrard is convinced the matchups saw a mountain being made from a grain of sand.
“I don’t think I would describe it as ugly. I think it’s too harsh. I think it was a little detail about nothing.
“They were disappointed with the Kemar celebration. Okay, but Kemar was punished for that and that’s up to me and me.
“They are obviously very frustrated having been beaten for the first time in six years in their home patch.
“It is not pleasant to lose a soccer game, especially when you are the favorite to win it. We can understand the frustrations, but it was disappointing. We think it could have been avoided. “
The victory was Gerrard’s first away from home in the Europa League group stage and he feels like his team has caught his scalp: “We beat a good team tonight, we deserved the win.
“We were good defensively in the first half, as well as a moment of a cross, with the header that hit the crossbar.
“But in possession we needed to improve, we needed to be better.
“In the second half we were outstanding for 20 minutes and then the game changed with the weather, it was very unpredictable, it was difficult for both teams.
“But we handled the game extremely well and got three big points.
“It is in his mind that the referees could delay and take the teams out.
“I am happy that he decided to continue playing, obviously, but the conditions for both teams and for each player were very unpredictable, very difficult to control.
“Moving the ball, passing the ball, it was all very difficult.
“The rain was amazing, the thunder. I think for the last 20 to 25 minutes it was about which team wanted the win the most.
“We had a scary moment at the end, luckily Standard didn’t score because it could have changed the game.
“In the second half I’m very proud of my team, we were much better and we deserved the victory.
“We had another two or three really good chances to score, so I think that’s important for the next time we play Liege, we know we are capable of creating great opportunities.”
Roofe and Ianis Hagi have played in Belgium and gave their coach key information about Standard before the match.
Gerrard said: “We have really important information on key individual players.
“They helped me get to know the Standard Liege players better.
“The record Liège has here, six years undefeated, you can see why, because it is a strong team with good players.
“The coach plays with a good and aggressive style.
“So I am very happy for my players, it is a great victory.
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