LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer News

Rangers duo appear intent on showing Steven Gerrard’s mistake

Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images
Follow us on Google Discover

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has unintentionally got the best out of Jermain Defoe and Scott Arfield.

20th January 2019, Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland; Mid season football friendly, Rangers v Helsinki; Jermiane Defoe of Rangers shoots on goal

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard was not playing games when he selected his Old Firm line up.

But if he was, it would have been a belated stroke of genius, finally having a positive effect a week later.

Scott Arfield and Jermain Defoe were snubbed as starters in the match against Celtic, and have responded in a big way.

Arfield bagged a hat-trick at the weekend against Motherwell, taking his tally to nine goals for the season.

He was assisted by Defoe, who had netted in midweek against Hearts.

Scott Arfield of Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Scottish Ladbrokes Premiership match between Motherwell and Rangers at Fir Park on April...

Defoe will have been particularly aggrieved at missing out against Celtic, with Alfredo Morelos blowing his opportunity starting by being sent off.

Arfield’s best game of the season came in December in the previous Old Firm match.

The pair seen keen on proving a point to Gerrard, and for Rangers, it’s working out well.

Gerrard will have wanted his players to provide a reaction to missing out, and while this was not the way he drew it up with Morelos suspended for four games, the Rangers boss has stumbled back onto a winning formula.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard reacts during The Ladbrokes Scottish Premier League match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on March 31, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland.