Scottish Premiership

ALAN BRAZIL scored a goal against the Poles en route to winning the Uefa Cup.
He expects Rangers to do one — if not the other — as they prepare to tackle Lech Poznan on Thursday night.

Celtic-daft Alan Brazil with good pal and Rangers legend Ally McCoistCredit: Dan Jones – The Sun

Going all the way in the Europa League looks a step too far for either half of the Old Firm.
Lifelong Hoops fan Brazil will be back on talkSPORT with Gers legend Ally McCoist on Thursday morning for the first time since the Old Firm derby.
And he fears losing the bragging rights to his sidekick after Gers’ splendid start to the season at home and abroad.
Brazil told SunSport: “Ally’s not gloating yet but I think the time might come.

“I felt the game at Parkhead at New Year showed how much Rangers had improved — but then they fizzled out after the winter break.
“They are definitely better again this season. They are stronger and they’ll have grown in self-belief after putting Celtic to the sword last weekend.
“They must be favourites for the title now. And Steven will be on their shoulders every step of the way to make sure they don’t slip up again.”
Brazil was a Uefa Cup winner with Ipswich Town in 1981, while Gerrard lifted it 20 years later with Liverpool.

Kemar Roofe scored a cracker for Rangers against Standard Liege Credit: PA:Press Association
The former Scotland striker knows a playing pedigree counts for nothing when you hang up your boots and step into the dugout.
But he feels Gerrard is learning lessons after two barren seasons at Ibrox.
He added: “What a player Steven was. He is now dealing with players who are not as good as he was — and he has to be careful what he expects from them.
“It’s a different job. I remember listening to Frank Lampard say he couldn’t believe how hard it was to take over as a boss.
“The likes of Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish will be helping Steven a lot. And he’s definitely warming to the job.
“You can hear the way he talks that he’s going to be a top manager. His mental attitude as a player was magnificent and it’s the same as a boss.

Brazil feels Gerrard is learning lessons after first two seasons at RangersCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
“Did Rangers take a chance when they appointed him? You can say they probably did in going for a rookie — but it looks to be paying off now. Steven was never an angel as a player — but he had discipline.
“You can’t mess around at Liverpool or give 80 per cent — it’s impossible. He has brought those same values to Rangers.
“Celtic will have a fight on their hands now to win ten-in-a-row.”
Gers face Lech Poznan at Ibrox on Thursday night after starting their Europa League group campaign with a 2-0 win at Standard Liege.
Kemar Roofe struck an incredible stoppage-time clincher from his own half — and Brazil believes it was symptomatic of the self-belief in the Ibrox dressing room right now.
He said: “I fancied Rangers to win over there so the result was no surprise to me — but the goal was a cracker.
“When your confidence is sky-high, like the Rangers players’ right now, you don’t worry about anything.
“They wouldn’t have worried about playing Celtic, they won’t worry about who they face next, they’ll just be buzzing with confidence. When you feel like that, you try things not everyone would try. Flair players like Roofe try things like that and it was some goal.”

Roofe’s strike from his own half in Rangers’ win over Standard LiegeCredit: BT Sport
Brazil won a European trophy with the likes of George Burley, John Wark and ex-Gers captain Terry Butcher at his side.
It still irks him that his goal against Widzew Lodz was his only one in the Uefa Cup run that season.

Alan Brazil’s book: Only Here For A Visit
But he’d love to see the Old Firm progress beyond the group stages again — even if winning the trophy may be beyond them.
He added: “Zbigniew Boniek, the great Pole, was in the Lodz team when I scored the goal at Portman Road.
“We played against some great players that season. Antonin Panenka was in the Bohemians Prague team was defeated.
“Michel Platini and Johnny Rep played for St Etienne and we beat a Cologne team including Toni Schumacher,  Rainer Bonhof, Pierre Littbarski and Tony Woodcock.
“The goal against the Poles was the only one I scored in Europe that season and I was so p***ed off.

Alan Brazil in action during his Ipswich playing daysCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“I got 28 for the season and only one in Europe — it was ridiculous.
 “Kevin Keegan pipped me for the Golden Boot and he scored seven penalties. I should have had 33 or 34 that season.
“I’d love to see the Scottish sides go far this season. I think Rangers can go through again but I’m not so sure about Celtic.

“That said, I didn’t see Rangers making it to the final in Manchester or Celtic reaching Seville for that epic game against Jose Mourinho’s Porto.
“But another of my old clubs, Spurs, have got Harry Kane, Gareth Bale and Heung-min Son. Imagine what they’d do to the Old Firm defences? It’s not worth thinking about.
“I would like to see Rangers and Celtic get through to boost the coefficient even higher, and you just never know.
“It would be great if they could progress as far as possible. But at the moment I fancy Rangers more than Celtic.”
Only Here For A Visit: A Life Lived to the Full – from Sporting Glories to Wild Stories
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Steven Gerrard reveals wife Alex wants him to quit as Rangers boss and escape pressure for family life More

FAMILY MAN Steven Gerrard admits his wife Alex would love to see him quit football management and escape its pressures.
Gerrard, 40, took over at Rangers more than two years ago but is building a team capable of winning the Scottish Premiership.

Gerrard with his wife Alex and his three daughtersCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The Gers are six points clear of Celtic, albeit with a match in hand, in the race to deny their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented tenth successive title.
Gerrard, who had glittering success as a player with Liverpool, accepts that he pays an all-consuming, obsessive price for being the No.1 man in the dugout.
But in an emotional insight, he acknowledges his family are not receiving all of his time and energy at this stage of his life.
Gerrard, a father of four, told the High Performance Podcast: “There are times when it dominates your life and you can’t control that. That’s what it is.

“But there will be a stage in my life where I have to give it up, for the sake of my family and for myself. To cut it, and live life with a bit of peace.
“There’s got to be a stage of your life where you have calm and peace, but at the moment I don’t feel ready for it.
“I do still feel full of energy. I do think I can help players. I do see opportunities to have more highs, and buzzes, and adrenaline rushes.
“For Alex and the kids, at some stage, I’m going to have to give me self to them, 100%. When that will be, who knows?

Gerrard has Rangers sitting pretty at the top of the SPL with a six point advantageCredit: PA:Press Association
“Alex would take it tomorrow. She’d take it tomorrow.”
Gerrard and Alex Curran married in June 2007 and she has been a rock by his side during his Liverpool highs and lows and then two seasons in the MLS with LA Galaxy.
He added: “Alex is the one who brings me down, when I’ve come in, and think I’m fantastic. If I’ve scored a goal, or we’ve won a game, she pipes me down.
“And when you’re on the floor, and you’re staring at the wall, she’s the one who helps pick you up.

“You know, she is going through the journey as well, so at some point, and the kids, the kids see it.
“You know, you do your best, to keep it away from them. You try and not bring it home.
“But any manager or any player that says, ‘Yeah, I don’t take it home, I leave it in the car’, are telling you lies.” More

CELTIC are looking to bounce back after a deeply disappointing week in their SPL game at Aberdeen.
The Scottish champions lost the Old Firm against Rangers before being beaten comfortably by AC Milan in the Europa League.

Neil Lennon’s Celtic trail Rangers by four points Credit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

Meanwhile, Aberdeen are on a four game unbeaten run and will look to take advantage of Neil Lennon’s vulnerable side.
What time does Aberdeen vs Celtic kick off?
Aberdeen vs Celtic takes place on Sunday, October 25.
Kick-off is at 12pm UK time.
It will be held behind closed doors at Pittodrie.
Is Aberdeen vs Celtic on TV and can I live stream it?
Aberdeen vs Celtic is live on Sky Sports football and Sky Sports Main Event.
Coverage begins at 11am.
The game can be watched on Sky Go if you are a subscriber and you can purchase a Now TV pass to watch the game.
Team News
Goalkeeper Tomas Cerny and left-back Greg Leigh will both be out with injuries for the home side.
Mikey Johnston and James Forrest are injured and will be missing for Celtic.
Meanwhile there are doubts over Hatem Abd Elhamed, Nir Bitton, Odsonne Edouard, with the latter still gaining back fitness after self-isolating with Covid-19

Latest odds
Aberdeen 19/4
Draw 27/10
Celtic 8/13 More

NIR BITTON has told of his Covid-19 hell and revealed: I couldn’t even stand up.
The Celtic star picked up the deadly coronavirus while away on international duty with Israel.

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Nir Bitton has opened up on his recent Covid-19 hellCredit: PA:Press Association

Bitton admits he underestimated the disease and called for urgent talks to limit who can be involved in next month’s international fixtures.
He said: “I went through some hard days with this virus. It wasn’t easy at all. Before I got the disease I underestimated it, but it was not pleasant.
“I had headaches, my muscles ached and I could not stand up. I had to sit.

“You do not know what you are heading towards. Everyone knows how the disease starts, but not how it ends.
“If it affected me, a young and athletic guy, I do not know how it affects older people.
“We see deaths and I need to say to people, watch out. Stay at home and look after your relatives. This is not an easy disease.
“I am still without taste and smell, but I hope it will come back soon and that the hardships are behind me.”

Bitton is now allowed out of isolation from his Glasgow home but faces a host of tests before he can make a Celtic return.
The experienced Hoops defender insists his club’s Covid-19 regime is watertight, with players all following orders.
But Bitton reckons it’s no coincidence that there was a flurry of positive tests during the international break.
Israel team-mate Hatem Elhamed and Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard caught the bug and missed Saturday’s derby defeat to Rangers.

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Bitton was forced to miss the Old Firm Derby last weekendCredit: PA:Press Association
Ryan Christie was also forced to isolate for 14 days after Scotland team-mate Stuart Armstrong tested positive.
Bitton insists any player from a club with a recent outbreak shouldn’t be allowed to play international football.
He said: “At Celtic we have been in a regime for four months since I returned from Israel.
“No families, no restaurants, no friends and almost no leisure life. We take care of ourselves.
“Then you go to the national team and suddenly there is a sick player.
“You find out after a few days and you know there will probably be more patients.

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“There is no solution. The only solution is to cancel the squad meetings and it will not happen.
“If a team suddenly has some positives, sometimes you should not take a risk.
“You have to keep players in an environment that is comfortable and sterile.
“If that means not inviting players from a team that has had an outbreak, then that’s what it should be.”

Celtic star Leigh Griffiths in lucky escape after horror smash in Lanarkshire More

GRAEME SOUNESS has been branded a ‘d***’ by former Rangers defender Hugh Burns over his choice of footwear on Sky Sports.
The former Light Blues stopper was quickly shipped out on loan to Hamilton Accies before joining Hearts on a permanent deal a year later following Souness’ arrival at Ibrox in 1986.

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Hugh Burns is not a fan of Rangers idol Graeme Souness’s choice of footwear

Burns, who made over 50 appearances for the Ibrox side, is more recently known for his viral commentary of ‘What’s the goalie doin’ Tom?’ while working on Rangers TV.
His passionate outburst followed Moussa Dembele’s lobbed effort over Wes Foderingham to bring Celtic level in the 3-2 Ibrox classic in 2018.
And his latest comments about Souness are likely to prove unpopular.

The pundit was discussing plimsoll shoes on the Talking Football Show when he interrupted host Bill Young and fellow guest Gordon Young to take aim at his former Ibrox gaffer.
Burns said: “I have got to say something.
“I was watching Sky last night and Souness had a pair (of ‘sandshoes’) on.
“He’s not my favourite person anyway but he looked like a right topper.”

Young replied: “What have you got against him?”
Burns continued: “Because he’s a d***.
“He’s a right trumpet sitting there (adopts Souness impression) ‘That’s for sure.’
“All the gear on with a pair of sannies. Some of us can still carry it but not him.
“He thinks he’s still 40 that diddy.”
Meanwhile, Rangers supporters group the Union Bears have mocked their rivals the Green Brigade with their own poster stunt around the city.
Connor Goldson grabbed a double as the Light Blues opened up a four point gap at the top of the Premiership with Saturday’s 2-0 Old Firm victory.

And with Steven Gerrard’s men winning on the park – the supporters have grabbed the bragging rights off it.
Prior to Saturday’s derby at Parkhead, the Green Brigade shared a number of stunts online including plastering Celtic posters from iconic Old Firm clashes across the city.
And now Rangers diehards the Union Bears have done their own trolling by posting a video of them travelling around Glasgow and sticking up pictures in various locations – including at Celtic Park.

Andy Gray gloats that Rangers ‘trounced’ Celtic in Old Firm victory More