Steven Gerrard unleashes as former Rangers boss eviscerates referee in scathing rant amid Moussa Dembele woe

Raging Steven Gerrard has vented his fury with an explosive ref rant amid mounting pressure at Al-Ettifaq after defeat to Al-Nassr.

The former Rangers and Aston Villa boss is facing a crisis at the Saudi Pro League after they suffered their third defeat in four games to Cristiano Ronaldo's side with the fiery 1-0 loss sending Ettifaq crashing out of the King Cup of Champions. The slump comes despite a squad packed with talent including Scotland defender Jack Hendry, ex-Liverpool stars Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum as well as Demarai Gray.

A pre-match blow game for the Gerrard with former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele was ruled out for "several weeks" with a knee injury - but things only got worse when the actions got underway in Riyadh. Referee Piero Maza sent off Nassr star Talisca late into first-half stoppage time before a late challenge from Ali Hazazi near the end of the 90 minutes saw Ettifaq reduced to 10-men following consultation with the VAR room.

Sadio Mane would go on to net the winner in extra-time - and Ettifaq quickly took their anger to the Saudi Football Federation. A club statement read: "Ettifaq have submitted an official request to the Saudi Football Federation to disclose the recorded dialogue between the match officials and the VAR room that led to Ali Hazazi's sending off against Al Nassr in the King's Cup. The club management extends its sincere apologies to the fans for the undeserved exit from the 2023/24 King's Cup."

And Liverpool icon Gerrard quickly played the blame game in a heated post-match debrief - as he branded the Hazazi red card the worst ref decision he has seen throughout his career. The irked boss said: I thought it was a fantastic game, a typical cup game, with