Rangers managed to bring in Jermain Defoe last month, and the forward has already seen some game time even though Alfredo Morelos if fit and raring to go. Morelos played on the right in the recently gone by clash against St. Mirren and two strikers carved out some great opportunities.
However, the new signing is going to push Kyle Lafferty further down the pecking order as he was already unable to get much game time when Morelos was fit and not suspended. Gerrard though recently mentioned that Lafferty could be in his plans as he can play as a traditional target man with a more mobile striker around him.
The gaffer was quoted as saying (Daily Record), “Jermain gives us the option of playing two up front, whether that be 4-4-2, a diamond, 3-5-2… it gives us that luxury. Kyle also does that we can go with a target man and a smaller guy around him.”
As of now, Gerrard has tried using Morelos and Defoe together but starting Lafferty with either of Morelos or Defoe might be a decent bet for the club. The use of a traditional 4-4-2 and the overall use of two strikers formula has taken a back seat in the past decade or so. Managers often prefer to have one extra man in midfield as opposed to one in attack so that the team can be organised and compact.
However, when the club has such natural goal scorers available, Rangers should make use of it. Gerrard would himself be aware of that as he played his initial part of his Liverpool days when Emile Heskey and Michael Owen started together. Later on, the duo of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez almost propelled them to the title. Currently, in the Premier League, Unai Emery has found a way to accommodate both Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette into his team as he knows that both of them can be match winners on their day.
Therefore with the right personnel, the formula of two strikers up front can still work, and we feel that Lafferty can have an important role to play given the fact that he brings in unique sets of abilities which neither of Defoe or Morelos possesses.
Rangers build most of their attacks from the flanks as both the fullbacks look to push forward. The likes of Ryan Kent and Daniel Candeias are also able wingers who can deliver decent crosses. Someone like Kyle Lafferty will bring more aerial threat in the box and the 31-year-old is a decent overall finisher as well. Lafferty has often scored crucial goals for his sides in his career, and we think that the Northern Irish international should be given a go in the first team with a smaller striker around him.
