Premiership leaders Rangers have been in a blistering run of form of late, much to the credit of former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard. The Englishman has managed to create a team to be reckoned with at the Ibrox stadium this season, and that is apparent to see from their position on the Scottish top-flight table. With a whopping 13 points separating them from closest rivals Celtic, the manager is sure to be happy with the way things have gone for him so far this season. Although the Gers have already secured qualification into the knockout stages of the Europa League as well, this match is sure to be an important one.
The results of the upcoming Thursday’s action will define what position Rangers finish in their Europa League group. Rangers have managed to give Portuguese heavyweights Benfica a real run for their money in the group stages this season, and they were quite close to beating the European side on both occasions this season, only for them to register unexpected comebacks. Despite this, Gerrard will surely be treating the next match as an important one. The Ibrox club haven’t faced a single defeat across all competitions this season, and that’s a record that the manager will be eager to preserve as well.
Team News
Rangers don’t actually have too many injuries to be worried about as such, but there are a couple of key names who are probably not going to play any part in this fixture. Ryan Jack has missed the last couple of fixtures due to a slight knock, and although he could be ready in time for this match, it’s unlikely that Gerrard will try and rush him back into the team. Filip Helander is expected to remain on the sidelines as well, as he is currently isolating after testing positive for the Coronavirus. The only player who is unavailable due to a long-term injury is centre-half Nikola Katic.
Here Is The Predicted 4-3-3 Rangers Lineup Vs Lech Poznań:
Predicted 4-3-3 Rangers Lineup Vs Lech Poznań
Defence
Although Rangers have already secured their place in the next round of the Europa League, it’s unlikely that Gerrard will take this match lightly. As good as Jon McLaughlin has been when called into action, it’s probably going to be veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor who gets the nod in between the sticks. Croatian international Borna Barisic was given a much-needed rest against Ross County on the weekend, which means that the full-back is expected to return to the eleven. James Tavernier is sure to start over on the right side, with Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun starting as the centre-half pairing.
Midfield
Rangers’ midfield work-rate has been one of their major driving forces this season, with the players in the core of the team having an effect in both the attacking and defensive phases of their game. Steven Davis, despite his ripe age, has been performing at an extremely high level this season, and he is likely to start as the midfield anchor. Finnish international Glen Kamara is another player who has grabbed the attention of the manager with his performances, which means that he is almost an assured starter now as well. While Joe Aribo has been good too, this fixture could see Scott Arfield returning to the eleven, in the Nigerian’s stead.
Attack
One of the few constants in Steven Gerrard’s side since the start of the campaign has been the presence of English speedster Ryan Kent on the left flank. The former Liverpool man’s creativity and explosive pace have been vital to a lot of the good football they’ve produced, and seeing him dropped from the eleven would be a massive surprise. Although Rangers made a number of purchases over the course of the summer, Kemar Roofe is undoubtedly the signing that has had the biggest effect. Expect the Jamaican to start on the opposite flank, with Colombian forward Alfredo Morelos continuing as the central striker in the team.
