Rangers Specials: To go Unbeaten, Top Scorer & Europa League

It’s been a stellar campaign for Steven Gerrard’s Rangers so far. The club were unbeaten in their Europa League group against the likes of Benfica and Standard Liege to make the knockout stages, just as they currently sit 19 points clear of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, without losing any of their 23 games in that competition either.

As this incredible, record-breaking season continues, we’ve looked at the latest specials to see what could unfold at the end of this magnificent year for Rangers, including the chances of going unbeaten for the first time since 1899, when the league format allowed for just 18 games.

After winning 20 of their 22 games so far, people are starting to question if Gerrard’s men can go all the way and finish the league campaign with zero defeats. There are still plenty of obstacles to overcome in the Scottish top flight, however, with one more trip away to Celtic to come towards the end of the season.

Now, after beating Aberdeen 2-1, arguably their toughest away fixture in the league has been and gone, besides that journey to Celtic Park.

The big test will, of course, be that remaining fixture in the Old Firm derby, seeing both the Glaswegian heavyweights clash in their third league derby of the season in March. Rangers got the better of their rivals in the two fixtures earlier this year, easing to a 1-0 win in January and a 2-0 win in October.

The last time a team finished the season unbeaten in the SPFL was Celtic in the 2016/17 campaign on their way to a domestic treble. In total, there have been three different years that a team went the full season without a defeat in the Scottish top division, and Rangers themselves last had an invincible team back in 1899, winning every single game.

Odds are 11/4 for Gerrard’s men of 2020/21 to be added to that elite list.

After defeating Aberdeen 2-1, Rangers have now scored an almighty 59 goals and let in just six from 23 games, which means this is looking like becoming one of the most dominant league displays seen across Europe in some time, and statistically, one the best in Scottish top flight history. In truth, it is utter brilliance from Gerrard and co. and whilst it isn't a shock seeing such a gargantuan club return to the top, to see them do so in such record-breaking fashion is, given Celtic's dominance the past decade.

What has got Rangers these 59 goals in 23 outings is the fact the goals have been spread out throughout the team. Right now, captain James Tavernier is leading the way as the club's top scorer (14) and the Scottish Premiership's top scorer (11).

Then, just behind Tavernier in the SPFL scoring chart is Kemar Roofe, who has netted 12 for the club this season and 10 in the league. After which is the clinical Alfredo Moreles, who seems to have finally found his feet after a surprisingly slow start to the campaign, and if he is to get firing, Rangers' goalscoring feats are only going to continue.

Morelos has now scored three goals in his last three SPFL appearances, after scoring just three in 16 league games. It did seem as if the Colombian was struggling with form because of interest from elsewhere, but with Rangers now on course to break all sorts of records, Morelos seems to have screwed his head back on and hit goalscoring form once more. Now, despite sitting with just six league goals and five behind leader Tavernier, now might be the time he finally hits the form that has seen his score 43 SPFL goals in 84 appearances.

As of now, Tavernier is priced at 6/1 to win the top scorer award, whilst Roofe is the favourite 9/4, just as Morelos sits with odds of 12/1.

Rangers' form on the domestic front has been near faultless, and in Europe, it's not too far behind either, which just proves how much this team has evolved within the last year. In truth, too many years have gone by where Rangers have foiled in Europe, such as the 2018/19 season when they dropped out of the group stages, before being defeated by Bayer Leverkusen over two legs last season.

This campaign, however, the club topped Group D and were never really in trouble of failing to progress to the knockout rounds throughout, despite the threat from Benfica. Rangers would draw both the home and away fixtures with the Portuguese giants, but as Benfica also drew with Standard Liege, the Teddy Bears finished as group winners.

Now, in the knockout rounds, Rangers face another trip to Belgium to play Royal Antwerp on February 18th, before hosting them at Ibrox a week later. Antwerp have been hugely underachieving in Belgium this campaign, with the club sat in seventh, with just nine wins from their 20 games. Ahead of this clash, Gerrard's men are 21/20 to win in Belgium and 2/7 to qualify for the quarter-finals.