Premiership giants Rangers will be looking to keep up their strong run of form in the Europa League when they welcome Standard Liege to the Ibrox Stadium this Thursday evening. The Gers’ last European encounter saw them face off against Portuguese giants Benfica, where despite having a 2-0 lead at one point, they were only able to secure a draw. Despite conceding two points in the late stages of the game, Steven Gerrard will take motivation from the manner in which they dominated a club as big as Benfica for a chunk of the fixture.
The Ibrox club have an unbelievable amount of momentum backing them up going into this fixture, as their match last weekend saw them dispatch Falkirk by a 4-0 scoreline in the Betfred Cup. Rangers are yet to lose a single game over the course of the season so far, and that alone is quite the achievement. In the Premiership too, the Gers have looked almost unstoppable, with the likes of Kemar Roofe and Scott Arfield showing amazing form. They currently sit at the top of their Europa League group, which means that a win here is essential.
Team News
The Ibrox club were without Joe Aribo for last week’s European encounter, but the Nigerian has since made his return to the team. George Edmundson and Jordan Jones, who were caught breaking strict COVID-19 guidelines, are unlikely to play any part in this match as well. In terms of injuries, Nikola Katic is the only long-term absentee that Steven Gerrard currently has to deal with, with almost a full strength squad to choose from apart from that.
Here Is The Predicted 4-3-3 Rangers Lineup Vs Standard Liege:
Predicted 4-3-3 Rangers Lineup Vs Standard Liege
Defence
Jon McLaughlin was given the nod to start in the goalkeeping role on the weekend, which means that veteran stopper Allan McGregor is likely to make his way back into the eleven for this clash. In front of him, Leon Balogun, who was also given a rest on Sunday, is set to return, to be deployed alongside the dominant presence of English defender Connor Goldson. The usual suspects of Borna Barisic and James Tavernier are expected to start on either flank.
Midfield
Whenever the focus turns to European football, Steven Gerrard has a habit of moving to a three-man midfield line, just to ensure that they’re able to control the tempo of the game. This trend is set to continue for this clash as well, with the manager likely opting for a flat-three across the middle of the park. Ryan Jack could come into the team in the central role, where he will be tasked with acting as the main link between the defence and attack lines. Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield are the two players who should start alongside him.
Attack
Just as they did in the Europa League draw at Benfica, Steven Gerrard’s side are likely to utilise Kemar Roofe in the wide areas for this matchup. Although he would start on the flank positionally, the Jamaican is likely to move in centrally whenever the opportunity presents itself. Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos is likely to be given the nod in the central role, with English speedster Ryan Kent expected to provide most of the Gers’ width down the left flank.
