Shock claim about 'untouchable' Steven Gerrard leaks out as Rangers hero fights back amid clamour to sack him

A host of leading pundits in Saudi Arabia are pleading with Steven Gerrard to leave Al-Ettifaq amid their dreary run but a claim from a TV documentary states he is deemed "untouchable".

The former Rangers boss is the man many Ibrox punters want back if Philippe Clement exits, however, he appears hell-bent on fighting his corner despite the Saudi Pro League's side nose diving in recent weeks. And their shock King's Cup defeat to Al-Jabalain has heaped further pressure on him, with some reports even claiming he has been sacked.

But leading account All About SPL strongly refuted this when they shared an update on the Liverpool icon's status in the Middle East. "Steven Gerrard in the Saudi League is an untouchable person!!! It is not because he is “Al-Ettifaq’s manager”, But because he is working to make the Saudi League project a success, where he is helping all Saudi League clubs to develop their infrastructure."

And Gerrard was bullish after Ettifaq's latest loss, as he praised the opposition and opened up on why Celtic hero Moussa Dembele was missing in action. He said: "I congratulate Al Jabalain. The team was excellent and deserved to qualify. The Al Jabalain team was the best in everything on the field. Our team did not show up. This was not the proper performance for the match.

"Al-Ettifaq did not show up today as we wanted. Al-Jabalain had the passion and deserved to qualify. The plan was for Moussa Dembele to start, but he wasn't fully fit for this match. Because of the pressure of the matches, I tried to rest some names, but the other team actually deserved it. Everyone was fully fit."