Barry Ferguson names his Rangers starting XI v Celtic, Fabio Silva benched
Barry Ferguson has picked his Rangers starting lineup to face Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday May 11, with Fabio Silva not involved.
Philippe Clement’s side head to the other side of the city knowing they must win at their rivals’ ground for the first time in four years to keep their title hopes alive heading into the final weeks of the season.
And while writing in his column for Daily Record (10 May), the former Ibrox skipper named the team he would go with and explained how they can get a historic win.
“Jack Butland in goal, a back four of James Tavernier, Leon Balogun, John Souttar and Ridvan Yilmaz,” he said. “A midfield of John Lundstram, Mohamed Diomande and Dujon Sterling.
“And a front three of Tom Lawrence, Cyriel Dessers and Todd Cantwell. Yes, people will say there’s no obvious width and that will have to come from the full-backs pushing forward at the right times.
“But, most importantly of all, Rangers have to stiffen up the midfield. With Sterling in there they can do that. It’s an athletic three who can all get about the pitch.”
Philippe Clement’s Rangers side picks itself v Celtic
The amount of injuries that Rangers and Clement have had to deal with this season has been unbelievable, and things aren’t easing up at all in the final weeks of the campaign.
Connor Goldson, Oscar Cortes and Danilo won’t return this season, Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo are battling to play again, Ryan Jack remains a doubt while Leon Balogun is the latest player expected to miss out.
That means the starting lineup will essentially pick itself at Celtic Park, although there are some options when it comes to the attack.
Clement has regularly opted for Portuguese forward Silva to play off the left in recent months, with his pace and goal threat replacing Sima while he has been sidelined.
But despite his goal against Kilmarnock his form hasn’t been the best and with Lawrence and Cantwell both performing well, no fans would complain if this was the lineup to walk out before the game.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has given three reasons why Celtic will win the SPFL title.
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