GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Kemar Roofe of Rangers (C) celebrates after scoring their sides second goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
The Scottish Premiership is set to return with an intriguing round of fixtures this weekend as Rangers make the trip to Aberdeen on Matchday 23. The Gers have enjoyed their best-ever start to a top-flight season with a 23-game unbeaten run and a victory on Sunday would be 10th in the league on the road for Steven Gerrard’s side.
Rangers strengthened their title credentials with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Celtic in the Old Firm derby last week. The Ibrox giants are currently 19 points clear of their archrivals atop the standings and will be the favourites to come away with three points against Derek McInnes’ side.
The Gers head to the Pittodrie Stadium unbeaten in their last seven visits, although things will be far from straightforward against the Dons, who extended their unbeaten run in the league to seven games against Dundee United last week.
Gerrard has a couple of injuries to contend with in his midfield department. Scott Arfield is ruled out after suffering an ankle ligament injury against Hibernian towards the end of December while Ryan Jack is yet to recover fully from his hamstring problem. Defender Nikola Katic remains a long-term absentee for the Gers.
The veteran has been a figure of reliability for Rangers this season and should be high on confidence after an impressive clean sheet in the Old Firm derby.
The influential skipper boasts of 10 league goals against the Dons since the start of the 2017-18 season and could once again be the difference-maker for the Gers on Sunday.
The Nigerian helped his side to a clean sheet against Celtic last week and should retain his place in the starting XI for the trip to Pittodrie.
The former Brighton man has been an undisputed starter at the heart of the defence throughout the season and there shouldn’t be any doubts over his selection.
The Croatian international has been a key outlet for Rangers down the left and should once again find himself among the starters on Sunday.
The veteran has put in some impressive shifts in the middle over the past few weeks and should continue in the absence of Jack.
The former Arsenal man remains a key cog in Rangers’ engine room with his work rate and excellent all-round game.
He was among the standout performers for Rangers in the derby win last week and Gerrard should continue to back him with regular starts in the absence of Arfield.
The former Leeds United forward wasn’t at his sparkling best against Celtic but will be hopeful of adding to his tally of 12 goals in all competitions on Sunday.
The influential winger failed to live up to the expectations in the derby last week but he remains an essential cog in the Gers’ forward line.
The talismanic No.9 has been somewhat inconsistent this season and the fans will be hoping for him to hit top gear in the crucial weekend trip to Aberdeen.