THIS campaign has shown that Rangers are not a Champions League team. They will do well to be a Europa League one now.

The lessons learned at this level are harsh and unforgiving. It is a tough school and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side once again found themselves outclassed by Liverpool.

This was an embarrassing, lamentable evening for Rangers. Questions will be asked and the answers will see the finger of blame pointed in many different directions.

Rangers finally have a goal to their credit in Group A but 16 have now been shipped in a woeful few weeks. Sitting bottom of the section with no points from four fixtures is a predicament they are unlikely to get themselves out of.

Scott Arfield’s strike gave Rangers hope. It was extinguished by Liverpool as Roberto Firmino netted twice before Darwin Nunez made sure of the win.

It would only get worse. Mohamed Salah added a shine to the scoreline that Jurgen Klopp will feel is more than justified given the Reds’ dominance over the two fixtures and this 7-1 triumph was another reminder of the respective levels at Ibrox and Anfield.

Rangers needed to take a point at least here to give themselves a shot going into an all-or-nothing tie at home to Ajax in a couple of weeks. Unless the odds are upset in Napoli, there will be no consolation prize.

This was a sore one for Rangers. Yet they could have no complaints after being swatted aside by Liverpool for the second time in a week as the Battle of Britain turned out to be a fight that Van Bronckhorst’s side never stood a chance of winning.

The change in venue resulted in a change of approach from Van Bronckhorst. It was a necessity given the situation in Group A, but also because the Ibrox crowd simply wouldn’t have stood for a performance that was as passive and uninspiring as the one that was produced at Anfield last week.

The anger at the whistle told it’s own story. This is a club that doesn’t accept losing and being so second best, regardless of the opposition, will not be tolerated by a support that don’t need many reasons to voice their concerns or their fury.

Van Bronckhorst made four alterations to his side a week on. Three of them – the introductions of Arfield, Fashion Sakala and Antonio Colak – were designed to give Rangers greater attacking nous, while Ryan Jack partnered John Lundstram in place of Steven Davis.

Rangers had been so ineffective as an attacking presence last Tuesday evening that it was almost impossible for them to be as bad second time around. The selection and the approach spoke volumes, but it would have been rendered meaningless if Van Bronckhorst’s players hadn’t taken to the field with the belief that a result was possible.

Ibrox expected. After 17 minutes, Arfield delivered as Rangers brought the crowd with them in the manner they simply had to.

Early strikes from Sakala and Ryan Kent, the first of which was saved by Alisson, were a sign of intent from Rangers. When their chance arrived, it rocked Liverpool and this famous arena.

Colak linked with Jack and the next move had to be positive. The pass was wonderfully weighted, the run from Arfield terrifically timed as he burst forward in the manner that is something of a trademark of his.

The finish was perfectly placed. Alisson’s dive and stretch were in vain as the ball nestled into the corner of the net and Arfield burst towards the Sandy Jardine Stand and saluted a support that were lost in the moment and the celebration.

It was a first Champions League goal in 12 years. After three blanks this term, Rangers were finally off and running, finally had the look of a side that could compete at this level.

The elation and adulation would only last seven minutes, though. Once again, familiar failings came back to cost Van Bronckhorst’s side as Liverpool levelled in such an frustrating fashion.

It is quite something to concede three goals to a team that possesses such an array of stars and talent and be left rueing just how avoidable each was. A free-kick and a penalty beat Rangers at Anfield and it was a corner that saw their lead wiped out here.

Kostas Tsimikas whipped in a cross to the near post and Rangers were exposed. Sakala couldn’t clear it and James Tavernier, who was culpable in the concession of the corner in the first place, was beaten by Firmino as he glanced the ball beyond Allan McGregor.

It was another soft goal for Rangers to lose. It was a stumble but there was no knockdown before the break and Arfield was denied by an Ibrahima Konaté block just when he seemed destined to double his tally for the night.

The loss of Connor Goldson just before the break was a damaging blow for Van Bronckhorst, as was the moment that saw Ryan Jack hobble off after the break. The squad is starting to look thin once more at Ibrox.

Rangers needed to start the second half with the same impetus as they had the first. Inside ten minutes, they found themselves behind, though, as Firmino netted once again.

Liverpool were just too good on this occasion. Joe Gomez provided the cross from the right and the finish – through the legs of McGregor – was composed from the Brazilian as Klopp’s side swept into a lead that was going to be very difficult to overturn.

Ibrox became subdued. The belief seemed to have drained from the stands and those on the park and the third Liverpool had a sense of inevitability about it.

Firmino was again central to it. He was the creator on this occasion, however, as his neat flick allowed Nunez the time and space to pick his spot and beat McGregor to make it three goals and three points for the Reds.

Goals four, five and six came from Salah. The first was a neat finish from close range, while the second and the third came from the edge of the area as the striker completed a quickfire hat-trick off the bench.

The night had run away from Rangers at an alarming rate. Liverpool were in the mood and Salah was in the groove as he showed such vision and skill to truly emphasise the gulf in class.

The final say belonged to Harvey Elliott. It was a magnificent seven for Liverpool and a night of abject failure for Rangers.

Rangers now have just two matches left in Group A. All that can be salvaged now, surely, is a modicum of pride before the campaign is consigned to the history books, and not for the right reasons.