Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is playing down any personal rivalry with Steven Gerrard ahead of their first Old Firm clash as managers.

Rodgers has been at Celtic for a few years, while Gerrard is just getting started at Rangers. The two were manager and player at Liverpool, when Rodgers almost led the Reds to a Premier League title.

Rodgers told Celtic TV: "I am looking forward to seeing Steven.

"He is a good guy, we worked well together at Liverpool. I don't necessarily see it as a dugout battle, I see it as the teams on the field.

"Whatever coach or manager is there at the time, it is irrespective to me. It is about looking at them and how they play and preparing the team in order to win the game.

"That's what I have tried to do in the 11 games against Rangers in my two years here.

"So that's the focus really. Try to analyse them the best we can.

"There is no doubt Steven has made a difference to them and made a change to them, a positive change.

"No matter the form, they are always tough games so our notion after Thursday will be to focus on that and be ready for it."