It was once taken for granted that Celtic would win 10 back-to-back titles, but it will take another post-Christmas turnaround for them to reach that milestone now.
Rangers sit 11 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, courtesy of a 4-0 victory over Aberdeen and Neil Lennon’s side dropping another two points in the 2-2 draw with Hibernian.
That gulf cannot only be put down to the champions’ problems, even if they have to some extent been the masters of their own downfall. Europe has shone a light on the Hoops’ shortcomings, but with Steven Gerrard in town, they are able to get away with less domestically too.
Rangers are enjoying their best start to a season since 1967-68 – though, incidentally, Celtic won the league that year – and remain unbeaten after 15 matches, winning 13.
Gerrard’s project, which has always shown signs of progress even in its earliest stages, is finally coming to fruition. In his first 18 months, the former Liverpool midfielder struggled to fix his team’s defence. They still managed just over two points per game in his first season (2018-19), but this time around they are yet to concede a single league goal at Ibrox.
At the other end, shrewd additions such as Kemar Roofe have been made to bolster the club’s attacking options. Five of this summer’s eight arrivals were either free transfers or loans and this is looking more and more like Gerrard’s team.
One of their quirks is that they are contributing goals from all over the pitch. Right-back James Tavernier, who has flourished since being given the armband by Gerrard, is top scorer with nine goals and six assists in 15 league appearances this term.
Even those who might normally be relied upon to score are asked to do much more. Ryan Kent, who was named Man of the Match against Aberdeen after scoring his first goal in 11 games, has still been thoroughly impressive and has been linked with a move to Leeds.
How Rangers closed the gap since promotion
- 2019-20 – Finished 2nd, 13 points behind Celtic
- 2018-19 – Finished 2nd, 19 points behind Celtic
- 2017-18 – Finished 3rd, 12 points behind Celtic
- 2016-17 – Finished 3rd, 39 points behind Celtic
Alfredo Morelos is another of whom Gerrard has demanded more. The Colombian has adapted his game and now works much harder to be involved outside the box.
A perfect weekend for Gerrard – almost
Yet the only mark against Rangers’ triumphant performance on Sunday, which featured goals from Kent, Roofe, Scott Arfield and a Tavernier penalty, was Morelos’ reaction to being taken off in the 66th minute.
Jermain Defoe came on to replace him with his side already four goals to the good, prompting Morelos to throw his gloves to the floor.
Gerrard had made the substitution looking ahead to Thursday’s Europa League game against Benfica, but the striker did not see it that way.
“I can’t work it out. We’re 4-0 up, he’s played well, his teammate is about to come on, we’ve got a big game on Thursday,” Gerrard said.
“I don’t know, you’ll have to ask Alfredo why he was a bit sad. I wasn’t sad, I was very happy.”
There is no changing Morelos and it might have been easier for Gerrard to sell him in the summer when he had the chance.
Instead, he chose to persevere with the notoriously volatile forward and continuing to get the best out of him after a slow start to the campaign will be key to Rangers’ title bid.
It’s testament to Gerrard and his 63.97 per cent win ratio that we are once again talking about serious title challenges. So much time over the past decade has been wasted under Pedro Caixinha and five different caretaker managers that it has fallen to a coach who had no prior management experience at senior level to accelerate progress.
Keeping Morelos under control will ensure that progress isn’t undermined.
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