Rangers were brilliant in the Europa League, beating Rapid Vienna 3-1 at Ibrox, and Steven Gerrard will want to transfer that form to the Premiership.
Steven Gerrard wanted a response from his Rangers side after they produced the worst performance of his tenure in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Livingston. And he certainly got one.
The Glasgow giants were fantastic in their second Europa League clash of the season on Thursday, following up that impressive 2-2 draw away to Villarreal with a 3-1 home win against Austrian outfit Rapid Vienna.
Alfredo Morelos was outstanding, netting twice at Ibrox either side of a James Tavernier penalty.
And, speaking to BBC Sport, former Rangers striker Steven Thompson was clearly impressed by his former club’s latest display on the continent.
“It was a really strong European performance and another strong home performance,” said Thompson, who played for Rangers between 2003 and 2006. “That’s been the biggest thing you’ve seen under Steven Gerrard.
“The home performances and results have been a resounding improvement on last year. He kept the nucleus from that team (which lost at Livingston) and he got a reaction.”
Rangers’ domestic form hasn’t been quite so impressive and they welcome league-leaders Hearts to Ibrox on Sunday, sitting five places and eight points behind Craig Levein’s pacesetters.
But Thomspon believes that Rangers’ excellent home form could bring Hearts back down to earth with a bump.
“That seems to be the thing standing out at the moment but their home form has been magnificent. It’ll be a really big test for them on Sunday when Hearts come to Ibrox; that will be very interesting.
“But given their home form you’d not expect Rangers to lose that game.”
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