John Lundstram: Liverpool vs Rangers in Champions League will be ‘special occasion’ | Football news
Rangers midfielder John Lundstram says playing his childhood heroes Liverpool in the Champions League will be a special occasion for him, but he is only giving tickets to families willing to support the Ibrox team at Anfield.
The 28-year-old has grown up supporting Liverpool, but has had to stay loyal after signing for city rivals Everton at the age of 15.
“Obviously at Everton I had to hide it,” he said Sky Sports News.
“You can’t really show yourself as a Liverpool fan but when I left the club I came back to try to support the team.
“Going back to my own city to be back at the club I grew up supporting is a special occasion for myself and I want to go there and win a good result.”
Lundstram has been inundated with ticket requests for Tuesday night’s Champions League Group A clash, but he is unwilling to help anyone who wants to cheer on Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“Of course, they’ll come to us, they won’t get tickets if they don’t support us,” he added.
Lundstram’s strike sent Rangers into last season’s Europa League final
“I have received countless messages and people trying to buy tickets but I only get a certain number and anyone who supports Liverpool will not get tickets for our end.
“To be fair, all of my family members wanted us to win.
“Maybe some of my friends still want Liverpool to win, but my family all support me and Rangers.”
Lundstram has no illusions about the challenge that awaits Rangers at Anfield but, following defeat in their opening two games, he believes it is important for them to take something out of the game.
Rangers have lost the opening two games of Group A
“They are probably one of the top two teams in Europe, if not the world, so it will be a difficult task for us, but we will go there with the belief that we have can get a result,” he said.
“Going to Anfield you need to have that solid foundation, whether it’s a four-man defender or a five-man, we really have to have the money. I think we all individually and collectively need to perform well in order to do that. get results.”
Giovanni van Bronckhorst led Rangers to the Europa League final last season after impressive wins over Borussia Dortmund and Red Star Belgrade.
Lundstram believes they need to find that form again if they have a chance to secure a place in Europe in 2023.
Liverpool finished second in Group A after one win and one loss
“Our away games last season, we had a good foundation to build on,” he said.
“Obviously everyone knows that coming up from the Europa League and the Champions League is a completely different level.
“It’s a different world, you’re playing against the best in the world right now.
“If we can get that solid foundation and try not to concede, it can give us a platform to try to go and win the game.”
