Former Celtic attacking midfielder Kris Commons believes Rangers are a credible threat to the Hoops’ Scottish Premiership crown after a dramatic Sunday of top-flight action.
The Hoops find themselves in sixth position in the table after losing to Kilmarnock, six points behind league leaders Hearts.
The Ibrox side demolished St Johnstone later in the afternoon, clearly buoyed by Brendan Rodgers’ side losing.
Former Celtic favourite Commons believes the early stages of the season signal that the Gers will be a credible challenger to the league trophy, believing Gerrard has transformed their fortunes.
Writing in his Daily Mail column, Commons claims:
For the first time in seven years, it looks like we actually have a genuine title race on the cards. That is testament to what Steven Gerrard has done at Rangers.
They have been and played games in Spain, in Russia, in Croatia, in Macedonia, in Slovenia, as well as everything domestically – but they’ve only lost once. You have to admire that.
You saw a real mental strength in the way they twice fought back to get a point in Villarreal. Then yesterday you saw the other side – a team oozing confidence and thumping five goals past the opposition.
Gerrard was – and still is – a rookie manager. For him to come in and change things around this much has been incredible.
He has tightened them up at the back and got them knocking in a few goals at the other end. Celtic, meanwhile, have the second-lowest chance conversion rate in the whole league.
It’s not the most comfortable of reads for any Celtic supporter I’m sure you’ll agree. Is Commons delivering a hard truth, or simply getting caught up in the same old boom-bust Rangers hype?
There’s no doubt that Gerrard’s side are much improved from last season’s calamitous showing, but at the same time we comfortably disposed of them in the recent derby.
If we can find consistency in our form against ‘lesser’ top-flight sides then there should be no question where the league title is going, but that seems to have been beyond us since the turn of the year.
The next month of matches could define our season with League Cup and UEFA Europa League action sandwiching huge games against the likes of Aberdeen and Hibs.
Can Brendan Rodgers inspire his side to turn things round from our recent showings?
Are you worried about Rangers pushing Celtic close in the Scottish Premiership this season? Have your say in the poll below…