Ibrox strikers embrace a rivalry
WHEN Alfredo Morelos headed Rangers in front against Livingston at Ibrox last weekend, there were few watching on that were shocked to see the striker hit the target.
There was a surprise for Jermain Defoe, though. After Morelos had nodded the ball into the net, he turned to celebrate with the man he has kept out of the team more often than not this term.
The pair shared a celebratory embrace on the touchline before MorelosgotbackdowntobusinessandRangers scored again to clinch a 3-1 victory.
It was the same story on Sunday. Morelos started, scored and was then replaced by Defoe as Steven Gerrard’s side saw off St Johnstone. The Englishman added another two goals to his tally with a late brace but it is his forward counterpart who still leads the Ibrox scoring charts.
There is a healthy competition between the pair, and there is also an ever-growing camaraderie.
“I said to him ‘when you score, make sure you run over to me’. In English, just like that,” Defoe said of his pre-Livingston message to Morelos. “And then he scored and he celebrated and he turned round and ran over, so I thought ‘oh!’
“He has been brilliant to be honest. It is difficult with the English, but his English is improving. It was nice when he ran over.
“He is a fantastic player and when he plays he is going to score goals, like he showed last season. He will do the same this year.
“He is so strong and when defenders get that tight to him that is when he is at his best, when he can roll people. His link-up was good, he kept the ball every time. You need that, because you have got Connor [Goldson] screaming at you! He was good.”
Morelos may be leading the line and leading the way for Rangers this term but there is no doubt the presence of Defoe has helped bring out the best in him during an encouraging, and prolific, start to the campaign at Ibrox.
The decisions over who to pick on a game-by-game basis are difficult for Gerrard and he faces similar dilemmas across the side.
The strength and depth of the squad is clear at present and will undoubtedly stand Rangers in good stead as they strive for progress in the Europa League and success in the Premiership and cups in the coming weeks and months.
“It is not just me and Alfredo, it is the whole team to be honest,” Defoe said. “There were a few changes from midweek and, like I have said all season and when I have come in, when you get an opportunity you have to take it.
“That has always been the case at every club I have been at. When you get a chance, you have got to take it when there are other players that can come in and play well. It is good.
“It is probably a nightmare for the manager trying to pick a team, but it is good and it keeps us winning and that is the most important thing.
“We have added a lot of quality and the players that have come in have done really well. It is not always easy to come in and play for a club like this and I feel that the players that have come in have done really well and added more quality to the squad.
“It is bigger and it gives the manager a chance to rotate for games so when you do play you can come in fresh and perform.”
One of the players who came back into the side on Sunday was Joe Aribo and the midfielder again caught the eye as he turned in an accomplished performance in Perth.
Aribo replaced Glen Kamara in the Gers’ central three and Rangers controlled proceedings through Steven Davis and Ryan Jack.
Jack got an assist for the first goal of the afternoon as Morelos did brilliantly to fend off Scott Tanser before he finished emphatically with a powerful shot beyond Zander Clark from the edge of the box.