Gerrard is proud of the change in his Gers squad
Last season Rangers and Celtic won both of their home Old Firm matches, yet the Hoops still finished nine points clear at the top of the table.
Despite significant summer investment, Light Blues boss Steven Gerrard realises his squad still isn’t seen as valuable a group as the Hoops – but he believes that is changing.
“The Celtic players have won things and have Champions League experience,” said Gerrard.
“We as a group need to continue to push and improve and, hopefully in the near future, we get the chance to win. Then people’s opinions of them will change.
“In terms of my confidence and belief in them, I know what they’re worth. At the moment, they’re priceless as I need all my best players to stay.
“It is difficult to predict if we are within touching distance of anything yet as the competition out there is tough.
“The hardest part is getting over the line. It is tough to win. But I do get a different feeling with this group.
“We spoke at the end of last season, and the beginning of this season, about being hungry. We spoke about finding a better level of consistency.
“So far, the evidence has been there that we are. But we are not in a position where we should be patting ourselves on the back.
“Of course, we deserve credit for qualifying two years in a row for Europe, but there is a long way to go.
“The next step and the next challenge is – can we go and win something? That is the hardest part.
“We are definitely a better team and group than when we went to Parkhead for the first time a year ago.
“The mentality has changed. It’s a group of players with more confidence and belief.”
Striker Alfredo Morelos has certainly been looking a changed man.
The yellow and red cards that came from his petulance have, for the moment, dried up, and Gerrard has no worries about him facing Celtic.
He said: “We’re really proud of him as we have seen a marked improvement in his behaviour. He’s channelling it in the right way.
“He’s playing with a coolness. But he’s still playing the aggressive football we all want to see because that’s when he’s at his best.
“There was a situation in the game against Legia Warsaw the other night.
“There was handbags with the two teams getting involved. You have a frustrated team and a jubilant team. I was disappointed to see it, but I did notice Alfredo didn’t go anywhere near it.
“That was good to see because that’s the type of stuff he doesn’t need to go anywhere near.
“Every opposition side will do all they can to wind him up, that’s football.
“He’s not the first player that’s happened to. You have to accept that and Alfredo does.
“All he has to do is keep doing what he’s doing from a football point of view, and he’ll be fine.”