Rangers defeated Standard Liege 2-0 at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne on Thursday night to secure three points from their first Europa League Group D clash.
After an even opening spell, the Gers took the lead in the 19th minute through captain, James Tavernier, who cooly converted a penalty following a handball from Noe Dussenne.
Standard Liege struck the crossbar through Jackson Muleka ten minutes later, but even though the hosts threatened from time to time, Allan McGregor made it through another 90 minutes without having to make a save.
Torrential rain throughout the second half made play difficult for both sides but Kemar Roofe added gloss to the result with a spectacular strike from inside his own half in injury time.
Here are our Rangers player ratings from the win over Standard Liege:
Allan McGregor – 6
Helpless as Muleka hit the bar with a header in the first half but once again he wasn’t forced into a save. Biggest involvement was being booked for protesting a handball on the stroke of half-time.
James Tavernier – 8
Outstanding again. His expertly dispatched first-half penalty proved crucial and he defended stoutly when called upon. Continued to fly forward to add real dynamism to Gers attacks and set up a clear-cut chance which was wasted by Morelos.
Connor Goldson – 7
Beaten when Muleka struck the woodwork but another commanding performance at the back. Generally dominant in the air in both boxes, winning the early header which led to the penalty and keeping Standard at bay thereafter.
Leon Balogun – 7
Solid outing for Balogun who worked well alongside Goldson to secure a clean sheet. Showed good concentration levels in tricky conditions in the second half and his pace is a great asset.
Borna Barisic – 5
Made promising early runs and delivered a dangerous cross to present Tavernier with a chance on the volley but forced off through injury before the break.
Scott Arfield – 7
Worked tirelessly to provide cover for the back four at one end before regularly surging forward to link up with the attackers at the other. Has now made eight consecutive starts and showed exactly why Gerrard has so much trust in him.
Ryan Jack – 8
A very strong showing on his return to the starting XI. Distributed well from the base of the midfield and drove forward effectively at times to create opportunities.
Glen Kamara – 7
Another good outing from Kamara, backing up his efforts in the Old Firm. Progressive with his passing again, making consistently strong decisions on the ball.
Ianis Hagi – 6
Picked up some good positions early on and almost scored spectacularly with a swerving shot from 30 yards after 20 minutes. Not much came off for him thereafter, though, and he drifted out of the game completely in the second half with the rain hammering down. Subbed in 67th minute.
Ryan Kent – 7
No goals or assists for Kent in this one but he still produced a valuable performance. Held the ball up much more effectively than Morelos, drawing foul after foul from the Standard defenders through his trickery.
Alfredo Morelos – 5
The odd piece of quality play but overall a poor night for Morelos, who looks far from his best at the minute. Struggled to hold the ball up effectively and fluffed his lines when provided with sights at goal. Subbed in 74th minute.
SUBS:
Calvin Bassey – 7
Did superbly after replacing Barisic for his first appearance in the Europa League proper. Made a number of key tackles and interceptions and also offered an excellent outlet on the left flank with his powerful running.
Joe Aribo – 6
A strong showing off the bench in very challenging conditions. His combination of power and quick feet makes him a difficult man for any opponent to stop.
Kemar Roofe – 8
It’s not often a 74th-minute substitute scores so highly but Roofe made an incredible impact on the game. He was very lively at the top end of the pitch after his introduction and his goal was world-class. His initial hold-up play was superb and then the audacious attempt from inside his own half was inch-perfect.
