OPINION
Steven Gerrard didn’t hold back in his criticism of his players after their calamitous 4-3 defeat to Spartak Moscow on Thursday night.
And he shouldn’t hold back from dropping the worst ones for the game against Motherwell on Sunday.
He’s already said he’ll replace any under-achievers in January. Now it’s time to show that he’s got bite as well as bark and make an example of some of his worst players.
Let’s start with the good – Alfredo Morelos, Glen Middleton, Daniel Candeias, Ovie Ejaria and Scott Arfield can all stay, along with Allan McGregor and James Tavernier.
The four players Gerrard must axe are Lassana Coulibaly and three of his defenders – Connor Goldson, Jon Flanagan and Nikola Katic.
None of them were good enough to deserve a spot in the starting XI this Sunday, and they should be replaced by Lee Wallace, Gareth McAuley and Joe Worrall. Ryan Jack must come in for Coulibaly.
6ft 3in enforcer McAuley is fit finally and he could be the player that has the biggest impact on the Ranger side going forward.
This is the team that will hammer Motherwell on Sunday:
