Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard impact clear as Cristiano Ronaldo sends three-word verdict

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard during his time in charge of Al-Ettifaq.
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)


Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard suffered his first defeat of the season as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane ended the Al-Ettifaq head coach's unbeaten start to the campaign. Former Liverpool winger Mane didn't manage to get his name on the scoresheet but played a key role in the 3-0 win for Al-Nassr, providing two assists.

Gerrard is into his second season in Saudi Arabia after initially enjoying a positive start but ultimately suffered a difficult debut in the Middle East. Jordan Henderson and former Reds teammate Georginio Wijnaldum arrived in Dammam last year, before the former departed, and in the summer the 44-year-old strengthened his backroom staff with John Achteberg making the switch following his Anfield departure.

Ettifaq enjoyed a great start to the season with successive 1-0 wins over Al-Shabab and Al-Akhdoud before brushing past Al-Fateh in a 2-1 triumph. Friday night posed a Liverpool reunion between Wijnaldum and Mane, with Gerrard in the hosts' dugout, but it was an unhappy home return.

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Al Nassr put pressure on the hosts in the early stages and were gifted a penalty shortly after the half-hour mark as Abdullah Madu tripped Sultan Al Ghanam in the box. Ronaldo added to his career tally as he drilled his spot-kick low into the bottom corner.

Shortly before the hour mark, Mane was in the thick of the action as he teed up Salem Al Najdi. The Senegalese forward threaded the 21-year-old through and he expertly lifted it over Marek Rodak.

Mane picked up his second assist of the evening 20 minutes from time as he pulled back to Anderson Talisca, who got in on the act with a thumping effort low into the bottom corner. In a post on social media, Ronaldo said: "Great team effort!

"Big win tonight — this one’s for the fans." The defeat for Ettifaq was their first of the season and dented their goal-difference but it's been a positive start for Gerrard's side.

And Ronaldo's admission that it had indeed been a 'big win tonight' shows the impact Gerrard is having in the Saudi Pro League.

Ettifaq missed the opportunity to go top of the table before Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal's fixtures this weekend. After four matches, they sit third, one point clear of Ronaldo's side and two ahead of Al-Ahli, who are captained by Liverpool icon Roberto Firmino.