Gio van Bronckhorst in defiant Rangers Champions League stance as he plots Euro path despite pointless group return

Gio van Bronckhorst ha refused to throw in the Champions League towel as he insisted Rangers can still bounce back from their Anfield lesson.

It’s now three games and no points on the board for the Ibrox side after they were outclassed in another sobering defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s relentless Reds. A sensational Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick gave the Scousers the early lead before Mo Salah sealed victory from the penalty spot just after half-time.

But it could have been a repeat of the hammering Rangers took from Ajax in Amsterdam had it not been for Allan McGregor after the 40-year-old stopper again rolled back the years to put on a one-man show of defiance. Liverpool are in Glasgow next Wednesday before the Light Blues face a daunting trip to Italy to take on Group A leaders Napoli, who are now in full command of the section after scudding the Dutch champions 6-1.

But van Bronckhorst has urged his team to keep fighting and ensure they have something to play for when they host Ajax in the group finale. He said: “It’s a very very difficult group with teams from a high level. Big defeats you see in this group stage and we have to concentrate on being in Europe after the winter break.

“That means results have to come our way in the next two games. That’s the only thing we can have still. The chance to play Ajax in the last game with a chance to qualify for Europe after the break.’

But van Bronckhorst acknowledged his team were always up against it against a side whose squad is valued at £830million - seven times the estimated cost of his own group. The Dutchman said: “The gap is obvious. Look at the squads we both have. We are competing against one of the best sides in Europe.

“The gap is there but it doesn’t mean you