Steven Gerrard hits early Saudi speed bump as Rangers and Aston Villa 'impatience' warning echoes amid winless run

Struggling Steven Gerrard has extended his winless run as Al-Ettifaq boss to FOUR games as the former Rangers and Aston Villa boss led his side to another defeat.

Gerrard took over Ettifaq after his spell at Villa came to an abrupt end with the club staring down the barrel of a relegation battle after he failed to recreate the success he enjoyed with Rangers - and he followed a series of big names in a move to the Middle East this summer. He's made an early move to bring Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson with him as the Saudi Pro League - while he also looks set to tempt former Celtic star Moussa Dembele to the club after his Lyon contract expired with Jack Hendry also touted with a move.

And Gerrard may be in dire need of the recruits after he suffered his second defeat since stepping into the hot seat. Croatian minnows Lokomotiva Zagreb ran out 1-0 winners as the former Ibrox boss failed to get lift-off with the Middle Eastern side.

The lacklustre early run will only see extra scrutiny with his managerial reputation being heavily criticised south of the border following his move to the Middle East. Outspoken pundit Dwight Yorke warned Gerrard that he was playing a "dangerous game" with his managerial stock after his Premiership title win with Rangers and early positives with Aston Villa - branding the deal "impatient".

He said: "Gerrard also did it at Rangers and he was successful, when you're successful, the big clubs come calling and that's why Aston Villa came about.

"Success at Villa would have been a top-eight finish, he got off to a really good start so people raised their expectations, but he didn't do it and came under scrutiny. It becomes a very dangerous game when you land outside the top 10, he came up