Kilmarnock vs Rangers

Rangers will head to BBSP Stadium Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon to face Kilmarnock to maintain the distance to the top two in the Premier League.

The visitors are placed third with fivepoints outside the top two while the hosts are ninth with only two points ahead of the relegation candidates.

Ever since the resounding success of the 2020/2021 Scottish Premiership season in which Rangers claimed their first league championship since 2010/2011 without a single defeat and collecting a fabulous 102 points, the team have relegated gradually but steadily behind their arch rivals Celtic.

The teams that have dominated them have gone on to win the title in each of the subsequent three seasons; that was why Rangers and Philippe Clement would have been keen to do so this season.

However, even though the Gers enjoyed the stable start of the season and have secured 16 of the first 21 possible points, they remain five points behind the two first teams, Aberdeen and Celtic, who have won all seven league games.

Beside Clement’s side suffered a really bad start of the campaign winning just one of their first four matches in all competitions, two of them were drawn and one lost, but the situation changed in the next games.

They have walked away with victories in seven of their last nine games, losing only to Celtic and Lyon, form that has placed them in good stead for another victory on Sunday.

Rangers will obviously be favourites for the clash, their hosts struggling in the relegation zone at the Scottish Premiership with nine points in as many games.

Kilmarnock’s season start is regrettable having occupied the four position in the previous season that saw them qualify for Europe’s top competition.

Derek McInnes's team was unable to take advantage of the chance, as FC Copenhagen eliminated them from the Conference League in the playoff round and Cercle Brugge from the Europa League in the second qualifying round.
Kilmarnock's troubles in Europe continued into domestic competitions as they lost their first four games—three in the league and one in the Scottish League Cup's second round.

Killie's record of three consecutive draws in the Scottish Premiership began on matchday five, when they finally secured their first point with a 1-1 draw against Hibernian. Killie ultimately secured their first three points of the season with their most recent 3-2 victory against Dundee.

With a 2-0 deficit into the last five minutes, Kilmarnock were doomed for a fourth league defeat. However, goals in the 86th, 88th, and 94th minutes saw McInnes's team astonishingly win.

Kyle Magennis, who hasn't played since December 2023, will not be available for the hosts, although he is anticipated to make a comeback later this month.

Following their convincing victory in their first league game of the season, McInnes could decide to play the same lineup in this match, however goal scorer Bruce Anderson might enter the starting 11.