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Steven Gerrard expecting "tough test" against Hibs after previous encounter

Steven Gerrard expecting
© Reuters
The Light Blues have a firm grip on the Premiership title race at the midway point having opened up a 16-point lead over Celtic.

Steven Gerrard insists he is not looking back in anger at the two points his side dropped the last time Rangers faced Hibernian.

The Light Blues have a firm grip on the Premiership title race at the midway point having opened up a 16-point lead over  Celtic.

The unbeaten Ibrox men have only dropped four points in 19 games, with the goalless draw at Livingston four games into the new season and September's 2-2 draw at Easter Road draw the only blips.

Gers now have the chance to make amends for their Easter Road stumble when Jack Ross' team visit Glasgow on Boxing Day.

Gerrard was annoyed by his side's defending the last time the teams met but the Gers boss insists his team will not let frustrations over that result cloud their focus as they look to make it 12 straight league wins.

He said: "We don't look back because you can't change anything. All that game tells us is that we are going to be in for a tough test.

"Hibs are in a good place, they have got good players in good form and it is set up to be a fantastic game.

"We felt hard done by in terms of not winning that game with the chances that we had and what we created on the day but it is always a tough game going to Easter Road.

"It will be a tough test at Ibrox but we are going into it in a good place and we are really looking forward to the game and watching my players play."

Gerrard is looking forward to seeing what the likes of Kemar Roofe and Glen Kamara can come up with after seeing both men shine in Wednesday's 3-0 win over St Johnstone in Perth.

Roofe was given the nod to spearhead the Gers attack despite Gerrard having Morelos free from suspension and rewarded his boss with the opener while Kamara grabbed a rare goal.

Gerrard – who confirmed Ryan Jack will again be missing with a knee injury – said:  "I can't take the credit for someone making a fantastic run and finishing a goal like Glen did in Perth. I can encourage midfielders to join in, of course, and we can give them a platform to do it.

"But they have to carry it out, so Glen deserves all the credit for that.

"But he's just a fabulous player. He's clever and he can do it. He can get goals, he can get assists. He had an effort that hit the roof of the net just before.

"What we do is give them licence to go express themselves so it's very pleasing to see."

Roofe has 11 goals this term – including wonder strikes against Standard Liege and Benfica in the Europa League.

But it was his three-yard tap-in at McDiarmid which had his boss purring.

Gerrard added: "Sometimes when you have got strikers, they are the best goals for me because that is what you want them to do.

"Obviously Kemar has scored some bangers this season from outside the box, which is pleasing and I am sure they will be his favourites.

"But, for me, when you have got a number nine and you are taking shots, it is important you are in the right place.

"It bounced off the keeper and if he is not there then it is cleared away. I think that is just as important a goal as scoring from outside the box so it was really pleasing to see."

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How you voted: Rangers vs Hibernian

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Draw
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Hibernian
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Hibernian manager Jack Ross pictured in October 2020
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1RangersRangers2119205655159
2Celtic18134145143143
3Aberdeen1911532718938
4Hibernian21106530201036
5Dundee UnitedDundee Utd216781727-1025
6Livingston197392226-424
7St Mirren186391421-721
8Kilmarnock2062122125-420
9St Johnstone2146111830-1218
10Motherwell1945101728-1117
11Ross County2144131238-2616
12Hamilton AcademicalHamilton2043131845-2715

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