Although Rangers are going strong in the title race alongside Hearts and Celtic under Danny Rohl’s tutelage, Jens Berthel Askou’s work has gone under the radar, with Motherwell heading for a fourth-place finish, banking on their brilliance at the back. It won’t be a stroll in the park for the Light Blues on Wednesday night against the best defensive outfit in the Premiership in their own backyard.
Rangers clinched an edgy 1-0 home win when these two sides locked horns in late December. This has been Motherwell’s only league defeat in four months. They have conceded only once since their Ibrox encounter, and the five wins in the past six outings should boost Askou’s army to claim a victory, having settled for a 1-1 draw at Fir Park in the opening gameweek of the 2025-26 campaign. The Gers are also flying high, as their emphatic 8-0 Scottish Cup win over Queen’s Park should bolster their spirit before travelling to North Lanarkshire.
Predicted 4-2-3-1 Rangers Lineup To Face Motherwell
Defence
Liam Kelly was handed a rare start in the Cup tie, but should make way for Jack Butland between the sticks. The designated Rangers ‘number 1’ is in majestic form with his composure and concentration, and must deliver another headstrong performance against the in-form Steelmen.
Skipper James Tavernier netted a hat-trick on Sunday. But the gaffer might rotate him with Dujon Sterling, as the fit-again Englishman showed his expertise as a right fullback in their stalemate with Hibs at Easter Road. Emmanuel Fernandez is nursing a knee injury; however, Rohl expects his star centre-half to be available for the upcoming clash. John Souttar should get the nod over Nasser Djiga in the heart of the backline. Left fullback Tuur Rommens could make way for Jayden Meghoma in the starting XI, but might feature as a second-half substitute after impressing on his debut.
Midfield
Nicolas Raskin was an unused substitute against the Spiders. But the versatile Belgian must return deep into the midfield to partner with Mohamed Diomande, forming a ‘double pivot’ in Rohl’s 4-2-3-1 set-up. Tochi Chukwuani is likely to make way for Raskin in the middle of the park.
Andreas Skov Olsen, their high-profile winter recruit, should keep his place on the right-hand flank. Djeidi Gassama was an unused substitute last weekend and, therefore, might be preferred over Mikey Moore, Oliver Antman and the fringe pair of Nedim Bajrami and Rabbi Matondo. Despite grabbing an assist as a substitute, Thelo Aasgaard must exhibit more firepower and creative spark, as his second-half strike earned them all three points in the reverse fixture.
Attack
Youssef Chermiti should be available again after missing the last couple of games. The Portuguese ‘number 9’ is expected to spearhead the attack ahead of Bojan Miovski and Ryan Naderi, regardless of the centre-forward duo netting against the Championship minnows.
