Steven Gerrard’s best XI must be within touching distance, but does the Rangers manager really know his best team?
There’s been so many over-performers since Gerrard walked in the door that he might not. As it stands, the Rangers manager clearly has his go-to players for the big occasion.
The likes of Allan McGregor, Connor Goldson, and Alfredo Morelos appear to be some of Gerrard’s favourites. You won’t see those stars dropped for any of Rangers’ must-win matches this season.
Yet whose place in the starting XI isn’t nailed on for the big matches?
The regulars
In goal, there’s certainly no contest. Wes Foderingham is a capable shot-stopper, but McGregor is a cut above. The Rangers number one is now Scotland’s number one after the international break, and he’s been in superb form.
James Tavernier, Nikola Katic, Goldson, and Borna Barisic pick themselves also. Why wouldn’t they? Gerrard’s Europa League qualification was built on steady defensive performances from three of the four.
Questions could be asked of Barisic in that respect. But the Croatian, who’s now a full internationalist, adds some real dynamism down the left that Jon Flanagan has yet to show.
The back-line is settled. Gerrard knows his five men who are reliable enough to keep opposition flair players at bay.
The midfield is almost the same, but not quite. It’s clear that the right-wing is up for grabs. Daniel Candeias and Eros Grezda are set to battle it out for a shot in Gerrard’s revolution.
You have to fancy Grezda in this battle. With so many rave reviews coming in from the outside, he’s surely the man for the right side.
Ryan Kent has been given the reigns down the left. Jamie Murphy’s injury means only Glenn Middleton is there to put in a challenge, and you have to fancy the on-loan Liverpool man to be the top performer.
The central dilemma
The centre of the engine room is the most interesting. The biggest question Gerrard has is who drops out for Lassana Coulibaly when the midfielder returns?
Ovie Ejaria would’ve been the answer beforehand, but his fine performances in recent times merit a prolonged run in the side. He’s scored more than any other Rangers central midfielder this season.
Outside of that, Ryan Jack can’t drop out either whilst Scott Arfield is a big favourite of the manager’s. Perhaps in Gerrard’s mind he knows what shape he wants to play and with what personnel.
Graham Dorrans and Jordan Rossiter are both back in training. Andy Halliday and Ross McCrorie are also available in reserve.
A raft of talent is available at Gerrard’s disposal. Therefore, he can be delighted with his options in both personnel and style. Whether he knows who should play week-in, week-out yet hasn’t been confirmed.
Up top, Alfredo Morelos picks himself. Kyle Lafferty is another who Gerrard clearly likes after signing him from Hearts. Then again, He still needs to try and topple Morelos or work alongside him. That’s another question the Rangers manager needs to answer but may very well know in his mind.
To sum up, the goalkeeper and defence is sorted. The midfield give or take a player is settled. Going forward, Morelos is the man whilst Lafferty’s role is still to really be defined.
That makes for pretty good reading from a Rangers perspective.
The manager is just about there with his favourite XI, and in a couple of weeks’ time we’ll hopefully know it for certain.
