NOW IT’S TIME FOR GERRARD’S MEN TO WALK THE WALK
RANGERS are in uncharted territory. For the first time in recent years, they are heading into an Old Firm match as favourites.
The betting market reflects this. For anyone who fancies a flutter, Celtic are available at as big a price as 2-1 with some bookmakers.
It brings a new kind of pressure for Steven Gerrard and his players. They aren’t the underdogs in the way they typically have been over recent times.
After winning both league games against Celtic at Ibrox last season, their fans will be demanding more of the same when the teams square up to each other on Sunday.
Since the club’s return to the top flight in 2016, the supporters have turned up to these games more in hope than expectation. But that’s gone now.
It’s no longer enough to just give Celtic a bloody nose from time to time. There will be a demand from Rangers supporters to land an early blow in this season’s Premiership title race.
Gerrard has been provided with the finance to assemble the strongest Rangers squad since Walter Smith’s double winners in 2011 — and confidence is flowing.
But it’s now time for them to walk the walk and justify all the hype that has surrounded their positive start to the season.
Celtic fans still view them as noisy neighbours — and who can blame them? The reality is that Rangers haven’t won a major trophy in eight years.
Saying you’re going to do x, y and z and ‘going for 55’ — they’ve heard it all before. It means nothing unless you back it up on the pitch.
That’s the challenge that awaits Gerrard and his players this weekend. The dynamic of the game will be different to what we’ve seen in recent years.
Rangers fans smell blood at the moment. It stems not just from winning their opening three Premiership games, but also from Celtic’s Champions League exit.
They will demand that their team get on the front foot and dominate their rivals, rather than playing on the counter as they have done previously as underdogs.
It’s important to remember, though, that Celtic are still top of the table. For all their troubles against Cluj in Europe, you can’t really fault what they’ve done in the league.
They’ve also won all three games and sit above Rangers on goal difference, courtesy of scoring 15 and conceding just three.
But life at the Old Firm clubs dictates that you’re only ever one
game away from an alleged crisis. Neil Lennon is experienced enough to know that.
He will be fully aware that, if his team goes to Ibrox and gets turned over, the fans will be on his case even more than they have been over the past couple of weeks.
For Celtic, it’s all about going there and making a statement. They will want to put Rangers in their place and demonstrate why they’re champions and why they’ve won eight titles in a row.
Gerrard has chopped and changed between Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe over the opening weeks of the new season.
But, if he’s fit, I fully expect Morelos to start the game next weekend. He hasn’t scored against Celtic and that’s a huge box he still needs to tick.
It’s a monkey he needs to get off his back. For any Rangers or Celtic striker, the two main areas you are judged on is doing the business in Europe and against your Old Firm rivals.
Beyond how he fares in front of goal, though, it will be Morelos’ ability to keep his cool which could also have a huge influence on the outcome of the game.
Gerrard has spoken of how he sees a more mature player in the Colombian this season. Well, this is going to be the acid test because you can guarantee Celtic’s players will try to wind him up at every possible opportunity.
In any case, the title isn’t going to be won or lost next weekend. It’s far too early for that and both managers are experienced enough to know that.
Look at Hearts last season. They started like a steam train, were top of the table heading into the autumn, then the wheels fell off quite spectacularly.
But it’s a chance for one of the teams to make an early statement and strike a blow.
Going into the first international break of the season with an Old Firm victory under your belt and a lead in the Premiership table would be a psychological boost for whoever can do it.