THE SCOTTISH SUN 🔵 Steven Gerrard on brink of sack as he arranges training around old club’s games – Shango Media
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THE SCOTTISH SUN 🔵 Steven Gerrard on brink of sack as he arranges training around old club’s games

STEVEN GERRARD is facing increasing calls for his exit from his megabucks Saudi job after Al-Ettifaq slumped to TENTH in the Saudi Pro League table.

The Liverpool legend has faced a difficult period in his coaching life after leading Rangers to a historic 55th title win as Celtic were going for ten in a row.

Steven Gerrard coach of Al Ettifaq looks on prior a Saudi Pro League match

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Steven Gerrard coach of Al Ettifaq looks on prior a Saudi Pro League matchCredit: Getty
Gerrard has overseen a tough run of results

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Gerrard has overseen a tough run of resultsCredit: Getty

He picks up a reported £15.2m a year in the Gulf state, but his star-studded side are in the midst of a shocking recent run which has seen them win just one of their last six in all competitions.

And fans and pundits alike are calling for change, particularly after the latest ignominy, a 3-1 defeat in the Kings Cup to Al-Jabalain where he started with Moussa Dembele on the bench.

Such calls are likely to see him linked with an unlikely return journey to the Ibrox club, where manager Philippe Clement is coming under increasing pressure.

Having seen Jordan Henderson jump ship to Ajax after he persuaded him to join his Saudi club, in all Gerrard has taken charge of 46 games with a record of 17 wins, 15 losses and 14 draws. 

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And perhaps it didn’t help when Gerrard and admitted that he and Al-Ettifaq goalkeeper coach John Achterberg admitted that he had been known to organise training sessions with an eye on Liverpool’s match 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.

« The players are onto me now; we’ve been training at 9 or 10 at night. »

After the weekend draw with Al Feiha, a fan posted on social media: ‘By God, Gerrard is making fun of himself. I have never seen a failed coach who has a lot of excellent names and doesn’t know how to employ them properly. 

« Dembele is a substitute and he is the top scorer, and Majed Duran is one of the best talents. May God help Al-Ettifaq fans. »

Another supporter said: « Al-Ettifaq’s situation will not change with Gerrard at the helm of the technical staff.

Ex-Rangers boss Steven Gerrard leaves fan in tears with touching gesture

« Gerrard served Al-Ettifaq outside the field, but there are no results for the technical work. What is the project that Gerrard is leading? »

He has faced regular complaints from the club’s fans for chopping and changing his line-ups.

After another recent defeat, one fan wrote « I was very optimistic before the match, but when I saw the lineup, I washed my hands of it.

« In every match, there is confusion and changing of names.

« It has confused me and all the experts about how to draw the lineup that Mr. Gerrard has been in for seven or eight rounds so far.

« He has been around since last season and he doesn’t know how to put together a lineup. »

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