Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson believes that new Rangers manager Steven Gerrard won't understand what the Old Firm actually is like until he gets a real taste of it.
Reds legend Gerrard will take charge of Rangers on a four-year deal from the beginning of next month.
Backing the appointment of the 37-year-old, Lawrenson said that the former Liverpool midfielder must have taken the job after being given assurances by the board about certain amounts of money to be spent on transfers.
The 60-year-old believes that even if Gerrard manages to take Rangers close to Celtic that will be considered a big achievement given how far Brendan Rodgers' men have been in front.
However, as far as analysing the true essence of the Old Firm is concerned, Lawrenson said that it won't happen until the new manager gets a proper taste of it.
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“They must have given guarantees because he wouldn’t have gone otherwise. It’s a tough job because of where Celtic are in relation to everybody else", Lawrenson was quoted as saying by the Herald Scotland.
“If he gets Rangers second and a lot closer to Celtic he will have done a really good job.
“But I don’t think he’ll really understand what the Old Firm is like until he gets there.
“It really is like a city cut in half and, if you lose a couple of games, the fans are going to be chasing you. I think it’s probably the most hostile place around.
“He obviously fancies he can do it, he’s already looking at players, he knows what it will take, but he probably doesn’t know if Rangers lose three games on the run in September, it’ll be like the end of the world, but he’ll just have to cope with it."
Gerrard is being joined at Rangers by Gary McAllister, who will be his assistant.
