Al-Ettifaq boss Steven Gerrard has admitted to altering his team training schedule in order to watch his former side, Liverpool’s matches.
Al-Ettifaq currently sits ninth in the league after seven games, winning three. Gerrard, who signed with the Saudi side back in July 2023, opened up on how Liverpool games’ influence his team’s training schedule.
Speaking to The Redmen TV, he said, “John [Achterberg, goalkeeping coach] and I have got more than one eye on it. We put all our schedule around the Liverpool games.”
He also revealed his decision might not have gone down well with some players, as they often have to train late in the evening because of the difference in time zone between the two countries. Saudi time zone is two hours ahead of Britain’s, which means 15:00 GMT kick-offs in the Premier League finish around 19:00 GMT in Saudi Arabia.
“The players are onto me now; we’ve been training at 9 or 10 at night”, He added.
Regardless, the Reds’ legend will certainly think watching Liverpool’s performance under Arne Slot so far this season is worth the wrath of his players.
The Merseyside outfit currently sits atop the Premier League rankings and second in the UEFA Champions League, having won 11 out of their 12 games played in all competitions so far.
Steven Gerrard records at Liverpool
Often regarded as Liverpool’s greatest ever, Steven Gerrard rose through the ranks in Liverpool, joining their academy at the age of nine and making his senior team debut at 18. He became the mainstay of the team a season later.
The Englishman spent 17 seasons with the Reds and enjoyed success on both a collective and individual level with the team.
He featured 710 times for the club in all competitions and scored 185 goals, assisting another 92. He is third on Liverpool’s all-time appearances list, fourth on the all-time goals ranking for the club, and the first in the assist.
He also won nine trophies during his stay with the club, winning two FA Cups, four Football League Cups, one Community Shield, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup. Unfortunately, the England great never won the Premier League title during his playing days.
He won a plethora of individual trophies, some of which are UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (1), PFA Premier League team of the year (8), UEFA team of the year (3), and PFA Players’ Player of the Year (1), and is one of the Premier League players inducted into the league’s hall of fame.
Over 17,000 fans voted the Englishman as their club greatest ever back in 2022 due to his terrific strides with the club.
Steven Gerrard’s Performances at Al Ettifaq
Steven Gerrard signed with the Arab club in July 2023, following a bad spell at Premier League club Aston Villa.
He is yet to win a silverware and has managed 43 games, won 17, drawn 13, and lost 13. The 44-year-old will be hoping his time can improve on their 6th place finish in the league last season, although they currently sit ninth in the current campaign after seven games.
He recently signed a new contract extension with the club this year, committing to a new three-year deal till June 2027.
