Steven Gerrard reflects on Rangers 'moment of genius' and reveals call-off fears

Steven Gerrard believes Kemar Roofe’s stunning strike from his own half in Rangers’ 2-0 win over Standard Liege is the best he has ever witnessed during his 22-year professional career.
Kemar Roofe celebrates his record-breaking goal in Rangers' 2-0 Europa League win over Standard Liege in Belgium. (Photo by BRUNO FAHY/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)Kemar Roofe celebrates his record-breaking goal in Rangers' 2-0 Europa League win over Standard Liege in Belgium. (Photo by BRUNO FAHY/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)
Kemar Roofe celebrates his record-breaking goal in Rangers' 2-0 Europa League win over Standard Liege in Belgium. (Photo by BRUNO FAHY/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)

Roofe collected the ball in his own half and shrugged aside two challenges on a sodden pitch before lobbing a shot over Standard goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart from 54.6 yards - the furthest distance ever scored from in a Europa League match.

“None of my goals were in that league,” said Rangers manager Gerrard, no stranger himself to a spectacular strike on the European stage during his playing career with Liverpool.

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“It was a moment of genius. I've been lucky enough to watch it five or six times since the end of the game and it's the actual build-up and preparation before the strike.

“He knocks two people off the ball with sheer strength on a very difficult pitch in the worst conditions I've seen.

“Then he manages to take someone on – and to then have the vision and audacity to try the strike in the first place, I just think that's a moment of genius.

“And it's probably the best goal I’ve ever seen live – and I've been a professional since 1998. It’s an unbelievable strike and he deserves all the plaudits for it.”

Gerrard expressed his relief the match was played to a finish in Liege after a second half deluge of rain affected the pitch.

“Of course it is definitely on your mind but it would have been really harsh on the players if it had been abandoned,” he said. “Fair play to the officials for seeing it through.”

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