Tam McManus: Ryan Kent is Championship at best after Rangers display v Liverpool
Tam McManus has slammed Rangers winger Ryan Kent and suggested that he is “Championship at best” after his display against Liverpool.
The 25-year-old failed to make an impact on his return to Anfield after being let go by Jurgen Klopp in the summer of 2019.
Kent’s future has seen plenty of speculation with Aston Villa rumoured to be interested in the winger, with Birmingham Live [12 September] suggesting that he could join the Villans for free next summer. However, McManus doesn’t believe he has the ability to play for a Premier League club.
Talking on the PLZ Soccer show [15:50, 5 October], he said: “Kent must have had so much fire in his belly after being let go by Liverpool and he would’ve wanted to show perspective buyers what he was about.
“On that performance, he is nowhere near Premier League standard. He’s Championship at best.”
Poor showing
The overall performance at Anfield was disappointing from Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side. We all know there was a gulf in quality between the two teams, but the Gers had to offer more than they did. A number of players let the occasion get the better of them and were just passengers.
Malik Tillman was anonymous, Alfredo Morelos was ineffectual and Kent flattered to deceive. Kent in particular will do himself no favours with performances like that on the biggest stage. There has been no secret made over his contract situation and after his Anfield showing, clubs won’t be queuing up for his services.
If he wants to play regularly in the Premier League then he had to show more than he did against a Premier League heavyweight such as Liverpool. The 25-year-old has a big opportunity to show he can perform against Europe’s best when Jurgen Klopp’s side make the trip to Ibrox next week.
In other Rangers news, the Gers are in talks with a player who’s settled in Glasgow.