Scottish Premiership

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

A BOTTLED water firm which is closely-associated with Steven Gerrard is almost £1million in debt, according to reports.
The Rangers gaffer is a brand ambassador for Angel Revive, a water supplier which sources water from a spring in rural Lancashire.

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Rangers boss Steven Gerrard’s water firm is reportedly almost £1million in debtCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

The Ibrox boss regularly refers to the firm as HIS water on his personal Instagram acount – and only recently arranged for the company to act as a partner for a charity match to help raise funds for a young Celtic fan fighting brain cancer.
But according to the Daily Star, latest accounts show that the company owes £931,912 – but has only assets worth £127,285.
The firm’s operations are run by the Doyle family at a plant in St Helens.
Rangers and Angel Revive have both been contacted for comment.

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The Rangers boss provdes regular advertorials for the firm
A quote from Gerrard on the company’s website claims that “Angel Revive is the superhero of waters in purity, nutrition and healthiness.”
Back in 2018, Gerrard posted a picture of the company’s range with the message: “My new sports, natural Alkaline spring water. With natural electrolytes. Ph 8.2. Now on sale.”
The website claims: “Our water trickles down through multiple layers of mineral rock across the Pennines into an aquifer; a naturally formed underground chamber deep in the earth protected from all outside contamination.

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Steven Gerrard is brand ambassador for the water firm
“Angel Revive is collected at source, UV tested for safety and then bottled locally.

“The water from the aquifer remains untouched by humans throughout the entire process – what’s bottled is water as pure as nature can provide.
“Our water is naturally alkaline, which means there is no loss of pH soon after opening like with ionised water.”
EX-RATED Rangers legend Souness branded a ‘d***’ in astonishing outburst from ex-player Hugh Burns
Boss Mark Doyle has said: “Our spring and its water have been the subject of numerous reports and commentary since Elizabethan times as to the curative benefits of water.
“However we do not claim our water can heal you – the belief is your own.

“For unknown reasons the spring had been covered over and buried for over a century until its history and benefits were brought to the attention of the current landowner.”
Meanwhile, former Aberdeen striker Noel Whelan has branded Alfredo Morelos as ‘petulant and childish’ after his slap on Celtic skipper Scott Brown.
The Rangers striker was caught on camera raising his hands to the Hoops midfielder as the Light Blues ran out 2-0 winners at Parkhead.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and Arsenal star Kieran Tierney send messages of support to young Celtic fan with brain cancer More