The season hasn’t even started and new Rangers FC manager Steven Gerrard is already battling injury problems. He was without his starting midfielder Scott Arfield and starting left back Lee Wallace in the 1-0 first leg win in Croatia, with Graham Dorrans and Jordan Rossiter also unavailable. Considering the circumstances, it was a good result for the Scottish team, as it was mostly made up of newcomers and youngsters.
Rangers new roster
36-year-old Allan McGregor was brought from Hull City to be Rangers’ new No.1 goalkeeper. He started at goal, accompanied by long-time captain James Tavernier and three more players who weren’t with the team last season. 21-year-old Nikola Katic (acquired from Slaven Belupo) and 25-year-old Connor Goldson (came from Brighton) were the centre-backs, while Liverpool academy graduate Jon Flanagan started on the left flank in place of the injured Wallace. Other than Tavernier, there were two more players in the starting lineup who were part of the Rangers’ squad last season – striker Alfredo Morelos and midfielder Ryan Jack. Ryan Kent (21) and Ovie Ejaria (20), two players loaned from Liverpool’s U23 squad, Jamie Murphy, who signed from Brighton, and Lassana Coulibaly (22), loaned from Angers, composed the rest of the starting eleven.
Wallace, Rossiter and Dorrans will be unavailable today as well, but Scott Arfield should be back and possibly start. Morelos’ away goal was crucial, as Rangers now enter the game with an advantage on the field, as well as off it. The fans at Ibrox Road will be loud and excited to see the Gerrard-led team they have high hopes for coming into the new season. The Liverpool legend has young, inexperienced starters, so he’ll have to make sure they’re careful and don’t get carried away in what will certainly be an emotional day in Glasgow.
The winner of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round Rangers vs. Osijek matchup awaits the winner of the game between Slovenia’s Maribor and Georgia’s Chikhura Sachkhere in the third qualifying round.
