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A Liverpool Under-23 side gave a team of experienced Glasgow Rangers players a 45-minute runaround in a behind closed doors friendly match - prompting Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to brand some of his Rangers' fringe stars "an embarrassment".

Neil Critchley's young side led 3-0 at half-time against Gerrard's side in Scotland, forcing a hasty half-time reshuffle by the Liverpool legend.

According to Scottish daily newspaper the Daily Record , Rangers boss Gerrard introduced four unnamed academy starlets - all either 17 or 18 - at the interval and described them as "fantastic" as they inspired a fightback in the 4-4 draw.

But the Ibrox boss was ominous in his assessment of the first-team stars who started the game and insists he learned more about certain players in 45 minutes than he had all season.

He told Rangers TV: "Well I think it's a few different reasons really, the first was to give people game-time who haven't played as much.

"We want to try and keep them as sharp and as fit as possible for the run-in.

"And the other reason was to have a look at some young talent that had been doing really well in the Reserves or the 18s and give them an opportunity to be around the first-team lads and see how they can cope playing against good players at Ibrox.

"It was a very useful game. I probably learned more in that 90 minutes about the players than I have done all season because it was a game of two halves.

"First half was an embarrassment and the second half was fantastic. It was a very useful exercise for different reasons but in terms of us as staff, we learnt so much about the players individually."

Liverpool's Under-23s finish their Premier League 2 season with a home match against Blackburn on Sunday, looking to end a fine campaign on a high. Victory could see the Reds leapfrog Brighton and finish runners up to champions Everton.

Gerrard added: "I think you'd expect young kids to be desperate to impress.

"You always know they're going to run around and work hard, giving you the stuff which really isn't up for debate - hard work, desire and commitment.

"What impressed me the most was they never had any fear. It was almost like 'yeah, the opportunity's there and I'm going to grab it. The four youngsters, all 17 and 18 years of age, took their opportunity and it was great to see.

"They entertained, it was just great to watch them, good fun."