STEVEN GERRARD has had his fair share of special nights at Anfield.

As the floodlights illuminated a Champions League fixture that will never dim from the memory, as the Kop orchestrated the stadium, Ibrox came to mind for Gerrard.

The chances of Rangers ever equalling Liverpool’s achievements - as they came back from three goals down to beat Barcelona and move into the final - are somewhat remote.

But the extraordinary efforts of Jurgen Klopp’s side, and those of Tottenham Hotspur just 24 hours later as they beat Ajax, show that anything is possible in football.

Gerrard said: “As the game was snowballing and the noise was getting louder and louder it took me back to certain playing days when I was playing there but it also took me back to the Old Firm game at Ibrox and the noise, and the maybe the last 15 minutes against Rapid Vienna.

“And there’s no doubt about it, if we can get that close to some big success here there is no doubt about it that these fans are going to be with us making that type of noise.

“Hopefully we can get some special nights at Ibrox because that’s what I signed up for. That was the hope. These fans are desperate for situations like that and we’ve got a responsibility to try and deliver it. We’ve progressed but there is still a lot of work to do for us to get that close and get those nights back at Ibrox.

“I think if they show passion and show all the basics and the non-negotiables that you should show individually and collectively – never give up, always fight to the end, give everything you’ve got – special things and things that people say are impossible can happen on a football pitch. I’ve experienced that.

“That was always my mentality, every training session, every game, always go away and be able to say to yourself that you gave everything you got. I think you saw two classic cases from Liverpool and Tottenham that no matter how tough the challenge is, how far back you are, how big the gap is, if you believe and you push things can change.

“It was a huge inspiration for everyone at Rangers, the last 48 hours in those games, and there have been many other cases over the years.”

Gerrard returned to Anfield more in hope than expectation on Tuesday night. He knows as well as anyone that remarkable things can happen, but few believed it possible.

The two semi-finals will go down in history, not just because of the results, but because of the emotion, the passion and the drama.

“It was an outstanding level of football to watch,” Gerrard said. “I couldn’t cope with the final few minutes, I had to leave. I couldn’t cope when it went to four. I had visions of a couple of ex-teammates and the best player in the world breaking my heart, so I decided to leave.

“I had seen enough. I got in the car and left at 4-0. Thankfully we got over the line and I’m really pleased.

“I would like to congratulate everyone at Liverpool for a tremendous effort, especially the efforts they’ve put in in the league to mirror their Champions League efforts.

“They’ve been sensational and you’re thinking that whatever happens in the Ajax and Tottenham game can’t get anywhere near the Liverpool game – and then the same thing happens again.

“It was a fantastic comeback by Spurs. And I think to see the emotion on [Mauricio] Pochettino’s face just summed the last 48 hours up. It was absolutely brilliant, I loved it.

“And for a manager to spend zero money and get that team where he got them? Wow.”

It was once Gerrard that was the main protagonist in the Liverpool fairytales. Now, he watches on.

The 38-year-old still rides the rollercoaster, though, and his admiration for the man that has made supporters believe, that has taken a team and a club to a new level only increases.

“I think there is a respect there,” Gerrard said of Klopp, who gave him his first coaching job with the Under-18s at Melwood.

“I understand his job is 24/7 and around the clock and he doesn’t need me nagging him or being in his face.

“He has a huge job to do at the club and, as a fan, I hope he stays there for many, many years. He is a top coach and he is doing an incredible job there. But what I will say is that every time I have met him or come across him he has been brilliant.

“Recently I did an interview with him for my Pro Licence. It was meant to be 15 minutes and he had me in there for an hour and a half.

“He is one of those people who is real and authentic, who will give you everything you need and more.

“He is an open book and to be fair every time I have asked him for anything – not that I’ve asked him for a lot – he has gone above and beyond.’

“Yeah it’s fascinating, some of his methods an ways and ideas are fascinating. They’re different. But he’s obviously getting a lot of joy and success from it.

“It’s something I will always remember if I’m ever at the stage where I have the amount of experience that they’ve got.

“I will always make sure that I give people the time that they’ve given me, to help me along the way.”