Rangers boss Steven Gerrard admits he has zero contact with his former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.

The academy graduate was Reds captain throughout Benitez's six-season stint at Anfield, but he had a famous tough love approach, and the pair maintain a cool distance to this day.

“I don't think Rafa Benitez liked me as a person," Gerrard said. “I'm not sure why, but that's the feeling I got from him. It probably started even before he spoke to me, when he met my mum.

“I can pick up the phone and speak to all of my previous Liverpool managers. Except for Rafa. It's a shame because we probably shared the biggest night of both our careers — the 2005 Champions League victory in Istanbul — and yet there is no bond between us.

“I used to think he favoured our Spanish-speakers. He was an especially big fan of South American players, which is fine. It caused no problem between us."

Benitez is now in charge of Dalian Yifang in China.