Derek McInnes insists Rangers are the ‘team to beat’ ahead of Celtic clash

Former Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists Rangers will go into next weekend’s Old Firm game as the “team to beat” but admits that Steven Gerrard’s side need to improve after a sluggish start to the season.

The Gers lost three games in a row under Gerrard for the first time, losing to Malmo twice, either side of a Tannadice defeat by Dundee United, but have since followed that up with two wins and two clean sheets.

With Celtic making the short journey across Glasgow next Sunday, McInnes believes the gap between the two has closed since last season when Rangers romped to the title but is adamant his old side remain the benchmark for Scottish sides.

“When you think back to two or three weeks ago, it looked as if it was plain sailing at Rangers with Celtic miles behind. It just shows you especially in Glasgow how quickly the perception can change,” McInnes wrote in his Mail on Sunday column.

“Ahead of the first Old Firm game of the season next Sunday, I still think Rangers are clearly the team to beat. It’s their title and they’ll work hard to win it again.

“Next week’s match will be quite intriguing because they are both teams who are possession-based and will have a lot of quality players on show.

” Celtic have allowed themselves to come closer to Rangers from where they were three weeks ago. That’s down to the efforts of the players buying into how Ange Postecoglou wants to play and the demands put on them. The Parkhead club have a lot to be optimistic about, albeit it is still early days.

“For Rangers, Steven Gerrard said after their 1-0 first-leg win against Alashkert in the Europa League play-off on Thursday that they need to wake up.

“Players need to concentrate on their own game. There’s only so much the manager and staff can demand, expect and give them the opportunity to be themselves.

“Gerrard has been more than fair to a lot of his squad. They have done well for him and they are good players. But he has told them to wake up and that he expects better.”

In other news, Rangers predicted XI v Ross County as Gerrard faces selection dilemma