Michael Owen reckons Rangers should consider "cheating" with their tactics to exploit Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side head for Anfield on Tuesday for a monumental Champions League group stage showdown. Rangers have lost both their opening two fixtures to Ajax and Napoli, leaving them in need of a famous result on Merseyside if they have any ambitions of competing in Group A.
But Jurgen Klopp 's side have also found themselves under scrutiny in recent weeks. Liverpool have only 10 points from their opening Premier League fixtures and drew 3-3 at home with Brighton on Saturday. Klopp has also been forced to defend right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold after he faced criticism for his defensive displays so far this term. Klopp maintained the system he demands will naturally leave Alexander-Arnold exposed - but it's a trade-off the Liverpool boss is prepared to accept given the 22-year-old's attacking contribution.
But former Anfield star Owen reckons it's an area Rangers will look to capitalise on, suggesting they should consider leaving Ryan Kent high in bold approach to catch last season's finalists on the counter. He told the Daily Mail : "Most teams who play Liverpool identify Trent as one of the main attacking threats they need to stop. By the same token, they will also say their biggest opportunity for getting in is on his side.
"Jordan Henderson has tended to try and cover for him but sometimes Jordan is not playing and that has been a cause for concern in certain games. One of Liverpool's biggest strengths can also be one of their biggest weaknesses. Ryan Kent will obviously know that. I'm sure he still watches Liverpool and there will be a huge part of him that is fond of the club.
"If you are an opposing manager you are looking for a player to make those out-to-in runs, especially if Trent vacates. Liverpool have a lot of the ball at Anfield so Trent is going to be sucked into those advanced positions. If Rangers can win it and be brave enough to leave Kent in almost cheating positions, they could counter-attack with a bit of force."
Overall, however, Owen reckons Rangers have only a "small bit of hope" in their pursuit of a stunning upset. He added: "Rangers players are used to big games. The Old Firm games are huge occasions, not just in Scotland, but around the world and they also have good European experience.
"I don't think they are used to playing a team of this quality but in saying that Liverpool are not at the top of their game at the moment so there is a small bit of hope there. Liverpool fans will be hoping that they are just finding their stride. But to those who have watched every game this season it doesn't quite feel like that.
"They need that foothold in the Champions League group and Rangers could bear the brunt of that. It will be tough for them at Anfield but Ibrox could be different."
