Brendan Rodgers has told Steven Gerrard he’ll have his support if he takes the Rangers hotseat – but warned he won’t ​show his former Anfield favourite any mercy on the pitch.

The Hoops boss insisted he’s not spoken to his old Liverpool captain, who has been offered the chance to take charge at Ibrox.

Rodgers – who is out to clinch the Premiership title against Gers at Parkhead tomorrow – admitted he was surprised the Anfield great has emerged as the front runner to become boss across the city.

But when asked if it would be difficult squaring up to his former skipper, Rodgers said: “Not really. My focus is on Celtic. I respect all managers.

Rangers fans will be hoping Gerrard can transfer some of his classy playing skills to the dugout if he takes the job

“You look at football management and you see the glory of it but it is a hard business as a player and as a coach and manager.

“I always have empathy for managers but of course my focus is clearly Celtic.

“I have had it with Garry Monk when I was at Liverpool and he was at Swansea. We crossed paths. The relationship changes over time.

“You are the manager there, you are directing and leading and then they make the steps into management and there is a friendship there and there is always
a support.

Rodgers and Gerrard enjoyed a close relationship on and off the park at Liverpool

“For me it doesn’t matter if I worked with them or not. I always tend to reach out to coaches and managers especially in those early stages because it is very tough. The expectation on modern football is huge.

“Stevie and I were close at Liverpool. I had a good relationship with him, similar to what I have here with Scott Brown.

“The synergy between the manager and the captain is very important. But I haven’t spoken to Stevie for a little while so it is all speculation. I am sure the guys on the Rangers board know what they are doing and will go from there.”

Rodgers' two former captains Scott Brown (left) and Steven Gerrard (right) have come up against each other on international duty

Rodgers insisted it was disrespectful to talk about the Ibrox job with Graeme Murty still in place – especially ahead of an Old Firm showdown.

But he admitted Gerrard will face a huge decision when he makes his first step in to management.

Rodgers said: “I was a little bit surprised when I saw it. If the speculation is right then maybe Stevie feels it is the right club. I know Steven very well and I know he wants to manage at some point. When it’s your first time it’s not necessarily about a club, it’s about the right club.

“When I took my first job I was coaching for 15 years and I had worked with kids at six years of age right through to the very best players in world football at the time at Chelsea.

“I felt then I was ready to manage and it was just a case of finding the right club. I had a number of possibilities but Watford came along and it was right. Why? Because they have a history of giving young managers an opportunity, right the way back to Graham Taylor.

A young Rodgers during his time at Watford

“I was following in the footsteps of Aidy Boothroyd who had been taken in when in his mid-30s and done a great job in getting them promoted. And what I knew was the club was pretty stable, the supporters were great, they gave you an opportunity, recognised as a young manager you needed support.

“It wasn’t any club for me to manage, it was the right club. That was what was going to be important for me in the first steps of management because all the statistics show lots of managers get their first job and there is a high percentage, it seems to go up every year, that maybe don’t get another chance.”

Rodgers admitted he felt for caretaker Murty after the build up to another Old Firm game cast doubt over his future at Ibrox.

And he added: “It’s interesting, the timing of it all. I feel for him as a coach and as a manager, it can’t be easy when all that is happening around him.

“I’m sure he’ll focus on the job. He had a good win last weekend against Hearts, they bounced back well. They’ll come and make it difficult for us, I’m sure.”

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