Rangers are preparing to face Aberdeen for a place in the Scottish League and Cup Final as Michael Beale takes his side to Hampden.
The Gers are rejuvenated under Steven Gerrard’s former Ibrox assistant and have won six and drawn one in seven games since Beale’s appointment.
This includes a late Pittodrie rally against Aberdeen with Rangers now looking to exact League Cup revenge against the Dons this season.
Lewis Ferguson scored the winner in a 1-0 Aberdeen semi-final victory in 2018 and the Rangers boss is clear he wants retribution in the competition.
Amid much debate in the striker position, we suspect Jon McLaughlin will get the OK v Aberdeen.
The Ibrox stand-in returned against Dundee United and we reckon he’s Beale’s preferred long-term option over Allan McGregor.
An increasingly familiar back line of James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Ben Davies and Borna Barisic is likely to start in front of him.
In midfield, we’re giving Ryan Jack and John Lundstram the nod as the holding players, with Malik Tillman playing in front of them.
Ryan Kent and form attacker Fashion Sakala are then our picks to start behind the striker.
Heading into the game there has been some debate over who Rangers might start up top, with Aberdeen skipper Anthony Stewart turning heads with comments in the build up.
We’re backing Stewart to get his apparently preferable choice, with Alfredo Morelos starting ahead of Antonio Colak and Kemal Roofe.
Rangers predicted XI v Aberdeen in League Cup semi – 4-2-3-1
GK – Jon McLaughlin
DR – James Tavernier
DC – Connor Goldson
DC – Ben Davies
DL – Borna Barisic
CDM – John Lundstram
CDM – Ryan Jack
RF – Fashion Sakala
CAM – Malik Tillman
LF – Ryan Kent
ST – Alfredo Morelos