STEVEN GERRARD could turn to former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers for the lowdown on their Europa League last-16 opponents Slavia Prague.
The Czechs shocked Leicester City 2-0 in the King Power stadium last night to go through to today’s ballot on a 2-0 aggregate win.
Now Rangers will face the Euro shock troops at the Eden Arena in the first leg on March 11 with the return at Ibrox a week later.
There is the intriguing possibility of Gerrard getting in touch with his ex-Liverpool gaffer Rodgers to discuss the merits of their conquerors who proved to be extremely dangerous in the Midlands after the initial scoreless stalemate on their own ground.
The old Anfield colleagues faced each other twice in Old Firm competition, Rodgers winning the first 1-0 at Parkhead and Gerrard overcoming that loss with an identical result in Govan. By the the time the Glasgow giants met again, Neil Lennon had taken over from the departing Irishman who joined Leicester in February 2019.
The Premier League pacesetters made it through to this stage by walloping Antwerp 9-5 on aggregate. The Belgians were dumped 5-2 in Govan with Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Ianis Hagi in superb form.
KEEP IT QUIET…Alfredo Morelos celebrates another Gers goal.
Gerrard’s men started their journey in the second qualifying round back in July and remain unbeaten in the competition with teams such as Willem II, Galatasaray, Benfica and Standard Liege all conquered along the way.
Slavia, who reached the quarter-finals of the competition in 2018/19 and narrowly lost to eventual winners Chelsea, are eight points clear at the top of the league as they aim for a championship hat-trick.
The four British clubs avoided each other with Manchester United facing Celtic group conquerors AC Milan, who won home and away against Neil Lennon’s side, Arsenal will take on Olympiakos and Spurs will meet Dinamo Zagreb.
United will host the first leg against Milan, which will see their former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic return to Old Trafford.
Europa League last-16 draw:
Ajax v Young Boys
Dynamo Kiev v Villarreal
Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk
Olympiakos v ARSENAL
Dinamo Zagreb v SPURS
MANCHESTER UNITED v AC Milan
Slavia Prague v RANGERS
Granada v Molde
The first legs are due on March 11, with the returns a week later.
