Steven Gerrard reckons Brendan Rodgers had something to do with Rangers failing to land Harvey Barnes and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on loan.
Rodgers had already left Celtic for Leicester in February 2019, a departure that went down badly with plenty of supporters.
But according to Gerrard, the former Celtic manager’s presence was still causing him problems after he headed south.
Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers, Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, October 2025
26th October 2025; Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Hearts versus Celtic; Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers
Speaking on The Overlap Daily, Gerrard recalled watching the Leicester youngsters during a friendly at Ibrox and immediately deciding he wanted two of them.
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“I tried to sign him on loan when he was a youngster at Leicester.
“We played their Under-23s in an international break with Rangers to give minutes to the lads that had stayed behind.
“We played them at Ibrox and I’m watching the game thinking, ‘who’s he, and who’s he?’ I go to the team sheet and it’s Harvey Barnes and Dewsbury-Hall.
“As soon as the game finished, I am saying to Mark Allen – who was the sporting director at the time – ‘can you get those two on loan. Do whatever we need to do to get me them on loan.’
“Unfortunately, Brendan Rodgers was the manager, so yeah that was probably the reason. I would have taken both of them on loan in a flash.”
Even after Rodgers had left he was stil pulling the strings in Glasgow and giving Rangers nightmares. Box office Brendan.
Barnes and Dewsbury-Hall both went on to establish themselves in the Premier League, so there was certainly talent worth asking about. Brendan should’ve done one better and sent them up the road to Celtic – that would’ve been a fine apology for leaving us.
Rodgers’ relationship with Celtic supporters has had plenty of twists since that first departure. Gerrard’s latest recollection gives them another little episode to enjoy ahead of his return to Glasgow next summer.
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