OPINION
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard must axe Ovie Ejaria for his first Scottish Premiership in charge of the Gers when they take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday afternoon.
Gerrard should also look to drop Ryan Kent to the bench to keep his attack fresh for their first league game of the campaign against Derek McInnes’ men.
Scott Arfield and Jamie Murphy must come in to replace the pair in order to find a balance between keeping momentum after a morale-lifting win against Osijek in the Europa League over two legs and keeping players at peak fitness.
Allan McGregor must keep his place in goals ahead of Wes Foderingham, behind an unchanged backline of James Tavernier, Nikola Katic, Conor Goldson and John Flanagan.
According to BBC Sport, Declan John and Lee Wallace are expected to miss the game so Flanagan should remain at left-back for the trip to Pittodrie.
Ryan Jack and Lassana Coulibaly were in good form against Osijek on Thursday night so should retain their spots in the deeper-lying midfield roles while Arfield should come in to replace loanee Ejaria in the attacking midfield area.
Ejaria, who according to statistics website Spotrac earns £104,000-a-year on his deal at Liverpool, was sloppy in possession and appeared to have been trying to hard against the Croatian outfit, and after such a poor performance in Europe, he must be axed.
Daniel Candeias and Murphy, who comes in for Kent, should both start on the wings having proven their worth to the club last season while Alfredo Morelos must continue to hold on to the lone striker role.