Ryan Kent blasted by ex-Rangers winger Neil McCann after he ‘disappeared’ v Liverpool
Ryan Kent was anonymous for Rangers as they suffered the heaviest defeat in the club’s history on Wednesday night.
Kent was trusted with a starting spot against Liverpool, but the 25-year-old failed to impact the game as his former side ran riot.
BBC Scotland pundit Neil McCann singled out Kent for criticism after the game, as he wants to see the winger affect games more from out wide.
“I say it again and it sounds like I’m battering him all the time, but Ryan Kent can have so much more influence,” said McCann, as per FootballScotland. “We only say it as we are begging for the boy to do well.
“We aren’t hoping he has a shocker. We want to see him in at the back post and take on Joe Gomez one-versus-one.
“Ryan Kent just disappeared. There was nothing. His performance will be scrutinised.
“But the whole second 45 minutes, I think Giovanni will make the whole squad watch that. It has to be analysed. A second-half destruction like that, you need to see where it went wrong.”
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Kent was billed before the match as Rangers’ deadliest threat, but in truth, his performance was blunt and lifeless.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst instructed his side to play direct and try to get at Liverpool’s vulnerable defence, but Kent had no chance in a physical battle with Joe Gomez.
The English centre-back was fielded on the right by Jurgen Klopp to fill in for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence. Gomez’s physical stature was evidently too much for Kent to handle.
Ironically, Alexander-Arnold’s injury is probably the worst thing that could’ve happened to Kent. He’s far worse at defending compared to his Liverpool teammate, and Kent wouldn’t have minded the extra defensive responsibilities that come with tracking him back.
Whether or not Kent felt the pressure of facing his former team is only known by him, but overall he needs to pick himself up and rediscover his form quickly.
There’s still a handful of games to go in October, and Kent will be a crucial part of Rangers’ bounce back.
In other Rangers news, Rio Ferdinand slams Fashion Sakala and claims he cannot be trusted