Kilmarnock v Rangers preview: Team news, head-to-head, where to watch, lineups, prediction

Philippe Clement will be eager to keep pace in the Scottish Premiership as his Rangers side travel to face Kilmarnock on Sunday (20 October).

The Gers have won their last three matches in the league since the 3-0 loss to Celtic in the Old Firm derby and trail their Glaswegian rivals by five points after seven games.

Preview

Clement will need to approach the match against Kilmarnock with caution on the weekend as his side’s 100 per cent record in the league since the Old Firm derby flatters to deceive.

The Light Blues had a Vaclav Cerny brace to thank for the 2-0 win against St Johnstone in a match that proved far more difficult than had first been anticipated, and they could consider themselves somewhat fortunate Mykola Kukharevych missed from the penalty spot in the 1-0 win against Hibernian.

Rangers will surely be shifting the club’s priority to the league at this point. The 4-1 loss to Lyon at Ibrox in the Europa League leaves Clement with a difficult challenge ahead to quality for the knockout stages of the competition.

Heading to Rugby Park, the visitors will be eager to continue winning ways in the league against a home side reeling from a pivotal 3-2 win against Dundee.

Three goals in the final five minutes of the match, plus stoppage time, secured a remarkable comeback at the Scot Foam stadium. Derek McInnes will use the late turnaround to motivate his side against superior opposition.

His side sit in ninth place in the table, 10 points behind next opponents Rangers. Kilmarnock will be relying on Matty Kennedy to recreate his heroics last time out and help his side secure what would be a monumental win for the underdogs.

Form Guide [Scottish Premiership]

Kilmarnock: WDDDL

Rangers: WWWLW

Head-to-Head [all competitions]

Rangers 4-1 Kilmarnock [5 May, 2024]

Kilmarnock 1-2 Rangers [28 February, 2024]

Rangers 3-1 Kilmarnock [2 January, 2024]

Kilmarnock 1-0 Rangers [5 August, 2023]

Rangers 3-1 Kilmarnock [4 March, 2023]

Team News

Ianis Hagi will begin the first match of his two-match suspension following his red card against St Johnstone, while Oscar Cortes is now expected to be sidelined for four months after he sustained a long-term injury in the 0-0 draw against Hearts on the opening day.

Whereas Tom Lawrence is facing a race against time to be deemed fit to feature against Kilmarnock, Ross McCausland should return from international duty unscathed after a minor injury scare.

Rangers will still be without Rabbi Matondo, Ridvan Yilmaz and Danilo Pereira for the weekend.

For Kilmarnock, McInnes will be able to name a near full-strength lineup at Rugby Park, with midfielder Kyle Magennis the only notable absentee.

Predicted lineups

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Deas, Ndaba, Armstrong, Kennedy, Polworth, Donnelly, Watson, Watkins, Vassell

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Barron, Diomande, Cerny, Bajrami, McCausland, Dessers

Where to watch?

The match at Rugby Park kicks off at 12pm GMT on Sunday, 20 October and will be live on Sky Sports, Sky Sports Main Event, as well as the Sky Go app.

Prediction: Kilmarnock 0-2 Rangers

Rangers have a near-perfect record against Kilmarnock and will be expected to return to Ibrox with all three points this weekend.

Clement will be eager to avoid losing more ground in the table with his side chasing Celtic and Aberdeen at the top.

The Gers have kept clean sheets in five of the last six outings in all competitions and with the usual suspects lining up in defence, it will be difficult for Kilmarnock to find a way past the side.

However, Killie have proven a mixed bag this season and, while Rangers should get the job done, it will be far from a blowout at Rugby Park.

In other Rangers news, Philippe Clement is set to spark major anger after what he said at Ibrox.

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