Ray Livingstone

Tue 1 December 2020 9:10, UK

Rangers should already have qualified for the group stage of the Europa League after charging into a 2-0 lead against Benfica last time out.

However, that game ended 2-2 and it means there’s still a bit of work to do for Steven Gerrard’s men.

We would be predicting a very different line-up if Rangers had qualified. As it is, we think Gerrard has to get the job done and put out his strongest side.

The good news is that the Falkirk game gave Gerrard the chance to rest a lot of his star players and we think he’s going to make seven changes for the visit of Standard Liege to Ibrox.

Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent sat out the Falkirk game from the bench and Kemar Roofe didn’t make the squad.

All three will come back in and provide the firepower that will see Rangers qualify at a canter on Thursday.

A win will definitely be enough and a draw would do if Lech Poznan don’t beat Benfica.

We’re assuming that Ryan Jack will still be missing through injury. Scott Arfield is one of the four players who will retain his place in the line-up, alongside Glen Kamara and Steven Davis. That means 22-year-old Ianis Hagi – who Gerrard described as showing ‘glimpses of magic’ v Falkirk – dropping to the bench.

Leon Balogun will come back into the back four and line up alongside the other three players to retain their places – Borna Barisic, Connor Goldson and James Tavernier.

Allan McGregor should come back between the sticks.

This is the starting XI we think Gerrard will put out against Standard Liege on Thursday…

In other Rangers news, ‘Will be alarm bells ringing’ – Exclusive: McLeish reacts to major Ryan Kent development