In their highly anticipated debut in the Saudi Pro League, Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson made an immediate impact, leading Al-Ettifaq to a thrilling victory over Sadio Mane’s Al-Nassr.
Gerrard, the former Liverpool captain, took charge as manager on July 3rd, with Henderson, his former Reds teammate, joining him as a player later in the month.
The match started with a bang as Mane, another former Liverpool teammate of Henderson, put Al-Nassr ahead in the fourth minute.
However, Al-Ettifaq quickly rallied back, with Robin Quaison scoring an equalizer to level the playing field. The decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when Moussa Dembele capitalized on a failed collection by Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi, securing the winning goal for Al-Ettifaq.
Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from the Al-Nassr lineup due to injury, allowing Mane, who joined from Bayern Munich in August, to lead the attack on his own.
It was an exhilarating start for Gerrard and Henderson, showcasing their influence and setting the stage for an exciting season ahead in the Saudi Pro League.
