RANGERS duo Fashion Sakala and Rabbi Matondo earned praise from Rio Ferdinand for their cameo appearances in the Champions League loss to Liverpool.

The pair came on and played on either flank in the closing stages of the 2-0 defeat at Anfield.

And BT Sport pundit Ferinand was impressed with their impact as he insisted they showed a "different energy" to Ryan Kent and Malik Tillman.

Ferdinand had suggested the difference in the game was Liverpool's ability to make the most of one-on-one opportunities and be brave in attack.

He explained: "I think it's just the difference in details and taking the opportunity when it arises, you've got to then go for the jugular.

"They would have set up to get Ryan Kent in a position in a one-on-one, and when the opportunity comes you've got to take that with both hands.

"He'll probably look back at the end of the game and think 'You know what, that was a chance for me to go and do it'."

But Ferdinand saw a different approach from the Rangers reinforcements in Sakala and Matondo as he suggested it could have been a different game had they started at Anfield.

Offering praise after the loss, he added: "To be fair the two wingers who came on late in the game (Sakala and Matondo), they wanted to get at people.

"They showed a different energy in the game, and you thought if they maybe started like that...

"Hindsight is a great thing but if they maybe started like that or been a bit more adventurous or on the front-foot with those types of players they may have given themselves a better opportunity.

"Maybe it wouldn't have allowed Liverpool to be so on on the front-foot as they were."