Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers will be looking to preserve their perfect record in 2024 when they welcome Motherwell to Ibrox on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams have already met twice in the league this season, with the Gers claiming maximum points on both occasions – a 1-0 home win in September last year followed by a 2-0 away success three months later.
Match preview
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Rangers extended their impressive winning run across all competitions to 11 matches when they secured a 2-1 top-flight victory over Kilmarnock on Wednesday night, although they were made to work for maximum points at McDiarmid Park.
The Gers were trailing at the break courtesy of an 11th-minute penalty converted by Daniel Armstrong, but they came out fighting in the second half and turned the contest on its head within the space of just four minutes thanks to goals from James Tavernier and Tom Lawrence.
Philippe Clement gave credit to Kilmarnock for their spirited display before hailing his side's "massive" win in the Premiership title race, as they remain two points clear of rivals and reigning champions Celtic, who claimed a statement 7-1 victory over Dundee in midweek.
With Celtic next in action on Sunday, Rangers can put the pressure on their Old Firm rivals and move five points clear at the summit with a victory over Motherwell, whom they have beaten in each of their last six meetings by an aggregate score of 15-4.
Rangers have every right to feel optimistic of success on Saturday considering that they have won 18 of their 20 league matches since Clement arrived at the club in October last year, while their upcoming opponents Motherwell are also in buoyant mood following their 3-1 win at Livingston on Wednesday.
Despite going a goal behind after just three minutes, the Steelmen made amends after the interval as strikes from Sam Nicholson, Blair Spittal and Jack Vale secured three important points for Stuart Kettlewell's side in West Lothian.
Victory for Motherwell ended their miserable run of 11 away matches without a win and has put them back in contention for a top-six finish as they sit eighth in the Premiership table and just three points behind Dundee in sixth spot.
Kettlewell has acknowledged that he does not want to "get carried away from one good performance" and is aware of the challenges that his side are set to face in Saturday's clash with Rangers, as they attempt to win their first league game in Govan since May 1997.
Team News
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Rangers will have to cope without Todd Cantwell (hamstring), Rabbi Matondo (muscle), Kieran Dowell (unspecified), Danilo (knee) and Abdallah Sima (thigh) as they all continue to recover from injury.
After several months on the sidelines, Kemar Roofe scored for Rangers B in midweek as he continues to build up his match fitness, and it remains to be seen whether the striker will be involved in Saturday's matchday squad.
Clement is unlikely to make widespread changes to his starting lineup, but the likes of Nicolas Raskin, Scott Wright, Dujon Sterling and Cyriel Dessers will all be pushing to start after beginning as substitutes last time out.
As for Motherwell, Callum Slattery (knee), Harry Paton (ankle) and Andrew Halliday (calf) all remain sidelined with injuries, although the latter two are targeting a return later this month.
Seventeen-year-old Lennon Miller has featured regularly for the Steelmen since the turn of the year and is expected to retain his place in centre-midfield, while top scorer Theo Bair – who has 10 goals to his name this term – is set to be supported in attack by Spittal and Nicholson.
Rangers possible starting lineup:
Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic; Diomande, Lundstram; Wright, Lawrence, Cortes; Dessers
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Kelly; Mugabi, Casey, McGinn; O'Donnell, Zdravkovski, Miller, Devine; Nicholson, Spittal; Bair
We say: Rangers 2-0 Motherwell
It is difficult to back against a rampant Rangers outfit who will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top against an inconsistent Motherwell side.
Taking into account the Gers' strong home form and the Steelmen's poor form on the road, Clement and co should have few problems claiming a routine win to extend their lead at the summit.
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Oliver Thomas
