Rangers opened up a six point lead on Sunday after a routine 2-0 win over Livingston and aside from the nature of the win there was another talking point that augers well for the future.
Steven Gerrard made five changes from the team that returned from Standard Liege with three points in the Europa League and yet the transition to domestic football was seamless.
A two goal lead after 15 minutes rendered the game over as a contest as Rangers controlled possession, once again limiting their opposition to just one shot on target, one more than Celtic managed last weekend.
The ease at which the Light Blues saw out the game is an indication that recruitment has gone well this summer and the squad is now perfectly equipped to mount a serious challenge on all fronts.
Of the nine substitutes, eight are established internationals and the one that isn’t scored from his own half against Liege in the shape of Kemar Roofe – each player on the bench could come into the starting XI and it wouldn’t have a detrimental effect, that Jordan Jones could be considered the weakest player sitting in the stands demonstrates perfectly how strong the squad is.
What squad is stronger?
Rangers 2010/11
Rangers 2020/21
There is also an acceptance now that there is a core of players who won’t be rotated because they will get their break during the internationals, Connor Goldson, James Tavernier and Ryan Kent, with the rest seamlessly interchanging.
Gerrard can now pick on form and on who is the right person for the job, Ianis Hagi‘s ability to pick a pass and Jermain Defoe‘s movement proved to be the decisive factor ,where not many would necessarily pick the duo to start against such a defensive team.
Consistency is now the key if Rangers are to finally deliver the silverware that their early season form suggests that they are capable of, and this week’s fixtures of Lech Poznan and Kilmarnock (away) provide another opportunity for the squad’s strength to be put to the test – one we all hope they will pass with flying colours.