Rangers know that they face a double Premier League challenge to make it through to the Europa League knockout stages.
Ever since the club returned to the European stage under Steven Gerrard in 2018, the Gers have managed to avoid competition from England’s top flight in the Europa League.
The less said about the Champions League meeting of Liverpool, the better.
But whilst Steven Gerrard, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale all avoided playing one of England’s strongest sides in the competition, Philippe Clement has had no such luck.
With clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on the Europa League horizon, both sides met each other in the Premier League over the weekend.
And there are managerial subplots aplenty as a familiar ex-Celtic boss heaps the pressure on a manager who might not be in the Old Trafford dugout by the time Rangers descend on Manchester.
Europa League Rangers foes meet in Premier League
There is pressure building on Spurs and Man United for different reasons this season.
Rangers have a vested interest in how both clubs fare as the campaign progresses, with the Ibrox side desperate to navigate a tricky eight-game run in the Europa League.
Spurs – who are managed by ex-Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou – are tasked with living up to the Australian’s ‘I always win a trophy in my second season’ boast.
United, after more than a decade of chaos, big spending and upheaval at Old Trafford, are tasked with simply holding it together long enough for Erik Ten Hag to keep his job.
Both sides met at Old Trafford on Sunday with the North Londoners coming out on top in a thumping 3-0 victory which has the Dutch coach’s job hanging by a thread.
Goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulesevski and once Rangers-linked Dominic Solanke put 10-man United to the sword after captain Bruno Fernandes was shown red.
Rangers could face different Manchester United manager
From a Rangers point of view, the devastating result could see a number of consequences.
The latest from BBC Sport suggests that Ten Hag will be given two more games to stop the rot after the Red Devils’ joint-worst start to a Premier League campaign.
But if Ten Hag cannot get positive results away to FC Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Premier League, the complexion could change rapidly.
This means that there is an increasing likelihood that it will not be Erik Ten Hag who Philippe Clement faces when Rangers meet Manchester United in late January.
As for Spurs, Postecoglou will hope a dominant Old Trafford display against 10-man United will kickstart their own inconsistent start to the season.
The goalscorers also act as a reminder of the expensively assembled firepower the ex-Socceroos coach will bring to Glasgow.
Whilst revenge will be on the minds of the Ibrox support when Rangers meet Spurs in December, the Australian will hope to blow the Gers away with his Premier League millions.
Here’s how Spurs and Manchester United fared on Matchday One of the Europa League.
