RANGERS have got nine domestic games and two cup finals in the Europa League before the end of the year and that run of fixtures will shape their ambitions for the rest of the season.

It starts with Livingston on Saturday as the Premiership returns after the international break and Steven Gerrard must be targeting eight league wins to ensure that, at worst, they are still within touching distance of Celtic going into the winter break.

If they could be level or ahead, that would be a huge psychological boost for Rangers and really set them up for the second half of the campaign. It would be massive.

It is easy to say but difficult to achieve and you can’t underestimate the importance of the game with Livingston this weekend.

The game away to Livi was a frustrating afternoon. Steven didn’t blame the pitch but Rangers just couldn’t get the ball in the net.

That will be one that they want to reverse and ensure they go into the Group G meeting with Villarreal on a high note. What a night that could be at Ibrox.

If you had said at the start of the season that Rangers would be at Christmas neck and neck with Celtic and in the knockout rounds of the Europa League, very few would have believed you.

What a turnaround that would be for Rangers. Now they have to go and try and achieve that over the next few weeks.