Rangers can extend their lead to 23 points at the top of the table with a win against Motherwell this afternoon
Rangers fans have reacted confidently to the announcement of today’s starting lineup.
The league leaders can stretch their gap at the top of the Premiership to 23 points with a win over Motherwell at Fir Park this afternoon.
Celtic once again dropped points on Saturday as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Livingston in Glasgow.
Rangers have won 21 of their 23 league matches so far this season, and last dropped points in September.
The previous meeting between Rangers and Motherwell saw the visitors take a surprise early lead at Ibrox in December, before a Kemar Roofe double either side of Cedric Itten’s goal handed Steven Gerrard’s men victory.
His side found things easier at Fir Park in September, when doubles from Itten and James Tavernier, along with one from Jordan Jones, earned them a 5-1 win.
Gerrard has stuck with the same starting XI that beat Aberdeen 2-1 at Pittodrie last weekend, meaning Ianis Hagi keeps his place in the lineup.
Kemar Roofe, Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack miss out again through injury.
STARTING XI: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic, Kamara, Aribo, Davis, Kent, Hagi, Morelos
SUBS: McLaughlin, Bassey, Helander, Patterson, Zungu, Barker, Stewart, Defoe, Itten
Speaking prior to this afternoon’s match, Gerrard hailed striker Alfredo Morelos and provided an insight into his relationship with the player.
Morelos has endured a difficult campaign in front of goal, but scored twice last Sunday against Aberdeen.
As quoted by the Sunday Post, Gerrard said: “Alfredo is a guy and a player that I will never give up on.
“I say that because of what he has given me in terms of goals, and the support he has given to the team since I came in the door.
“I will never give up on my players.
“He is in a better place now because he is on the back of scoring two goals in a Man-of-the-Match performance.
“He is a challenge, of course, and there is the language thing.
“He hasn’t always got things right, but you have to take into consideration his age.
“I have to treat Alfredo differently in terms of the language.
“His communication has got better, but we do lean on Katy Lamont (the player liaison officer) within the club, who speaks fluent Spanish.
“We use Katy if we want to sit down and have an extended conversation with him.
“You can’t expect him to be perfect. He’s a human being. But in terms of his treatment on a daily basis, or the standards we set on and off the pitch, he gets the same as everyone else.
“The important thing is that Alfredo always remembers the support that he’s had from supporters since day one.
“His job is to try to make them as happy as he can between now and the end of the season.
“What happens beyond that, we will just have to wait and see. But we will always be respectful to him, and what he wants.”
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