Steven Gerrard hails Kemar Roofe’s strike as’ the best goal he’s ever seen

Steven Gerrard praised Kemar Roofe’s moment of genius, insisting that he had never seen a better goal live than the Rangers leader’s shocking shot from within his own half that plunged Standard Liege into rain-soaked Belgium.

The Ibrox manager has an impressive catalog of goals from his playing days, but admitted none compares to the effort that put the stamp on a 2-0 Europa League win at Stade Maurice Dufrasne.

James Tavernier put Gers ahead from the penalty spot when the Light Blues achieved their first away win in a group stage clash since Walter Smith’s team beat Lyon in 2007.

Kemar Roofe’s injury time goal from the midline sank Standard Liege on Thursday

But it was Roofe’s incredible effort that made the headlines, and Gerrard insists the former Leeds man deserves his moment in the limelight.

He said: ‘None of my goals were in that league.

I think it was a great moment. I’ve been lucky enough to see it five or six times since the end of the game and it’s the real preparation before the attack.

‘Hit two people off the ball with great force on a very difficult field in the worst conditions I have ever seen.

Chief Steven Gerrard says it’s the best goal he’s seen live since he was pro

Then he manages to take on someone, and then have the vision and the audacity to attempt the attack in the first place, I think it’s a moment of genius.

“And it’s probably the best goal I’ve seen live, and I’ve been a professional since 1998. Amazing shot and he deserves all the applause for it.”

But Roofe’s celebrations were not well received by the hosts.

The former Anderlecht striker was booked after his goal, but a backroom staff member from Liege took matters into their own hands when they faced him full-time, sparking a fight on the touchline between the teams.

Gerrard has no idea if that raid will get his team in trouble, but says he will talk to Roofe.

Roofe’s celebrations were not well received by Standard Liege players towards the end

“I can’t control what comes of that,” he said. I don’t think I would describe it as ugly. I think it’s too harsh. I think it was something or 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 at their home patch.

“It is not pleasant to lose football games, especially when you are the favorite to win them. We can understand the frustrations, but it was disappointing. We think it could have been avoided. ‘

Roofe’s goal sealed the 2-0 win in the Europa League tie against the Belgians

The final 20 minutes were played in a swamp as storm clouds flooded the field.

But Gerrard was delighted with the way his defensive levee held up in the final stages.

He said: ‘I had to say certain things at halftime. We needed to be better in possession.

“I thought our organization was good and besides a couple of crosses that we allowed in, I thought we were good from a defensive point of view.

“We needed to show more style and believe in ourselves more once we got the ball back, so we could hold it for longer periods.

The Ibrox club rode their luck at times in a rain-soaked Liège on Thursday evening

So we had to go to half-time a bit, but the first 20 minutes of the second half we were outstanding, more like the Rangers that I like to see with style and a real approach based on possession when we recovered the ball. .

But obviously the weather changed drastically and the conditions became unplayable and highly unpredictable.

“ It was about who was going to better manage the conditions from there.

But you have to give the players credit because I think you saw a different side in the last 25 minutes. We pushed ourselves, we managed the conditions and we deserved a great victory in a difficult place to come. ‘