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There were always going to be a number of younger Liverpool players like to leave the club on loans before the start of the Premier League season, and it’s looking increasingly clear as which youngsters will have a shot at replicating Trent Alexander-Arnold’s path versus those who will have to get minutes and experience away from Merseyside. Just recently, Harry Wilson was assigned to join Frank Lampard’s Derby County, and now, it looks like fellow Academy product Ryan Kent will reunite with former captain Steven Gerrard at Rangers.
Liverpool has confirmed that the 21-year-old will spend the coming season at Ibrox once international clearance has been obtained, where he will hopefully get some meaningful playing time in the Scottish Premier League. Kent started out the past season on loan with Bundesliga club Freiburg, before joining Bristol City for the latter half of the season.
While it’s not quite the same as staying with Liverpool and fighting for a chance to play in cup matches or even Champions League fixtures under Jürgen Klopp, Kent has at least the possibility of experiencing some big crowds and intense matches, and might even get a taste of Europa League action if things go his way.
“I think when the opportunity came around to join a club of this magnitude, it was a bit of a no-brainer,” said the youngster about his move to Scotland. “They have got a person in charge now in Steven Gerrard who has played at the highest level and achieved many great things.”
“Everybody knows what a massive club they are with a massive fan-base. I have already watched a bit of them this season in the pre-season games and the Europa League qualifiers.”
The move appears to be getting something of a mixed reception among Rangers supporters, with some appreciative of the low-risk, low-commitment approach, while others are grumbling about whether these moves are more beneficial to the parent clubs (and Gerrard’s connection to Liverpool just underscores the issue). It should be an excellent learning opportunity for Kent, but there is also the prospect of the situation getting dicey if Gerrard struggles to collect points once the season kicks off.