Brendan Rodgers reacts to possibility of Old Firm meeting with Steven Gerrard next season

Next season's Old Firm derbies could be set to become even more interesting.

Steven Gerrard is now odds-on to be the next Rangers boss and should Ibrox host the Liverpool legend's first foray into club management, he'll see a familiar face in the opposition dugout for clashes with arch-rivals Celtic. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he was surprised to learn that Rangers were so interested in Gerrard, who is currently in charge of Liverpool's U18 side. "I've seen the speculation over the last couple of days and I was a little bit surprised," Rodgers said on Friday. "But the most important thing when you are starting out is when you feel the time is right and when you feel ready, especially when it is about your first job. "It is not necessarily about a club, it is about the right club. And if the speculation is right and Stevie has spoken to them then maybe there is something in that, that he feels that it is the right club. "I know he has always wanted to be a manager, I know that from my time working closely with him at Liverpool, it was something that he wanted to do." Speculation that Gerrard would take over from current Gers manager Graeme Murty intensified on Tuesday night, when club chairman Dave King was pictured in the Anfield stands for Liverpool's 5-2 victory over Roma in the Champions League semi-final first leg. It was suggested that King was present to hold talks with Liverpool's former captain, who was on punditry duty for BT Sport. It's been rumoured that Gerrard would make former Reds teammate Gary McAllister his assistant at Rangers should he agree to take the reins. The first Old Firm meeting of the 2018/19 season can't come soon enough...