Liege – who have a fantastic home European record of late – were put to the sword by a first-half James Tavernier penalty before in injury time, on his return from injury, Kemar Roofe incredibly scored from inside his own half!
From the side which won the Old Firm derby at Parkhead on Saturday, Nigerian international Leon Balogun came in for Swedish international Fil Helander, Scotland international Ryan Jack replaced Northern Ireland’s Steven Davis while Romanian internationalist Ianis Hagi swapped-in for Brandon Barker.
It highlighted the strength-in-depth boss Gerrard has across his squad, with the quality in numbers also visible tonight among the 12 substitutes the manager is able to name – with that number including the returning Roofe.
Without any real opportunities being created in the opening stages, the early minutes were really open, with both sides battling for control of that midfield area.
Gers forced the first corner of the game on 18 minutes, with James Tavernier delivering a super ball to the back post for Connor Goldson to get his head to.
He nodded back into the mix, where it bounced and came off the hand of Standard’s Nicolas Gavory, with referee Jakob Kehlet pointing to the spot.
After booking Noe Dussenne for his complaints, Tavernier stepped-up to take a quite magnificent penalty kick – goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart went the right way but the skipper’s strike was right into the side netting to hand Gers a fantastic lead, with that incredibly being his ninth goal in his last 10 matches.
On 29 minutes, there was a bit of a let-off for Gers, with Jackson Muleka glancing a front-post header off the crossbar, while at the other end, Scott Arfield did magnificently to set Alfredo Morelos up for a clear shot inside the area, but the Colombian opted to try and slip it back for Arfield rather than go for goal.
Three minutes before half-time, the visitors were dealt a blow with Borna Barisic pulling up, and having to be replaced with Calvin Bassey.
Then, deep into added time, Liege hit the bar again – though this time Muleka’s effort was clearly made by his arm. The referee missed that however, and instead booked Allan McGregor who was typically vocal in his complaints.
Within two minutes of the restart, super play from Tavernier opened up the Standard defence to put Morelos in one-on-one with Bodart to the right of goal, but the ‘keeper came out on top.
The weather really then closed in on the stadium, with an incredible rainstorm making conditions really challenging for the players – indeed the rain was so heavy water was beginning to stand on the pitch.
In spite of that, however, Gers worked another few opportunities – brilliant work from Hagi put Morelos in again, but again Bodart denied him, albeit from a tighter angle than the first time around.
A brilliant Bassey burst from the left then set up Arfield for a shot from the edge of the area which went just wide.
Conditions were only worsening for the players as the half wore on – but Gers were dealing with them the better as the minutes ticked down.
Indeed, they were able to keep their shape remarkably well to limit Standard to pretty much nothing, and then, in the final minute of three added minutes, Kemar Roofe produced undoubtedly the goal of the season so far.
The attacker initially did wonderfully to bring the ball out from the back and rode three challenges as he entered midfield. He was then forced wide a little, but still from within his own half, he decided to try his luck with an effort on goal.
It seemed to take an age to come out of the sky, but when it did, sensationally, it arced over the head of Bodart and nestled in the back of the net!
It was just outrageous from Roofe, and it provided a memorable end to a match which will never be forgotten for many reasons.
The big picture though: this is a sensational start for Rangers to Group D ahead of the visit of Lech Poznan to Ibrox next week.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic, Arfield, Jack, Kamara, Hagi, Kent, Morelos.
SUBS: McLaughlin, Bassey, Helander, Davis, Itten, Patterson, Aribo, Barker, Stewart, Roofe, Barjonas, King.