Rangers are taking on Dunfermline at Ibrox on Friday night in the Last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup and we’ve put together our Predicted XI for the game.
The Gers were stunned in Govan by ten-man Malmo on Tuesday night, ensuring that their Champions League hopes are over for this season.
That has placed even greater importance on the domestic cup competitions.
Dunfermline have been tipped by some as potential promotion candidates from the Championship but they’ve started off poorly, drawing their opening fixture against Morton and losing 3-0 at home to Partick Thistle on Saturday.
Gerrard can’t afford to take them lightly, though, as a fourth consecutive slip-up would be disastrous.
The manager has claimed that he will freshen up the side without making ‘drastic’ changes, but we’re predicting as many as six alterations.
The constant rotation of goalkeepers across the opening weeks is a policy that must be abandoned, so we’re going for Allan McGregor between the sticks, perhaps more through hope than expectation.
Gerrard claimed that he’s set for talks with his senior players before the game, so James Tavernier and Connor Goldson may be retained in the hope that they’ll lead by example. If Tavernier does continue ahead of Nathan Patterson, the latter is likely to feature at some point as a substitute.
There may well be changes elsewhere in the back four, though, with Jack Simpson a candidate for a first competitive start of the season, while Calvin Bassey could replace Borna Barisic at left-back.
There’s every chance that Joe Aribo will continue in midfield but Steven Davis may be rested and Scott Arfield could drop out after failing to make his mark on Tuesday. John Lundstram and Glen Kamara are the likely beneficiaries.
Finally, there could be two changes to the front three, given that several important players are in need of game time.
Ryan Kent could be retained in order to help him try to rediscover his best form, but Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi could come in for Alfredo Morelos and Scott Wright, who would then offer firepower from the bench.
Rangers Predicted XI vs Dunfermline (H) – 13/08/2021
GK – Allan McGregor
RB – James Tavernier
CB – Connor Goldson
CB – Jack Simpson
LB – Calvin Bassey
CDM – John Lundstram
CM – Joe Aribo
CM – Glen Kamara
RIF – Ianis Hagi
LIF – Ryan Kent
ST – Kemar Roofe
