Gerrard insists he can't for Rangers' new season

Despite the extreme rivalry which exists between Aberdeen and Rangers, Gerrard still can't wait to get the Premiership season underway.

Fans and players are anticipating a hotly contested match, and Gerrard is sure that these are the occasions which his new-look side should make their mark on.

Gerrard is relishing the chance of starting the season with such a big game: "It's great, I love it, I can't wait."

"It will be juicy, it will be tasty. The rivalry has grown over the years before my time and before a lot of the players' times. We have to accept that and embrace it and go there and try and do our club and our fans proud."

"As a player, I was obviously a tackler myself and that is where the rivalry has come from. So I would be very stupid to sit here and point fingers at anyone who threw in a bad tackle."

"But, you know, this is what happens. At Liverpool we had Manchester United and obviously everyone knew about Everton and then the Chelsea rivalry grew. This is football. This is why we love the game and we are all fascinated to see the outcome at the weekend."

"As a player and a manager, I can't wait for kick-off and I am really looking forward to it. I am looking forward to the stick I am going to get. I just hope that we are smiling when we come away from it."

"Domestically, what a start to go in right at the deep end. Aberdeen away, right into that cauldron. Let's see what we've got. It will be a tough game for us."