Steven Gerrard admitted Rangers’ thrilling 4-3 Europa League win over Royal Antwerp got the blood pumping but insisted he is not losing focus on domestic action ahead of Dundee United’s visit to Ibrox.
The Gers boss was in his element as he watched Ryan Kent and Borna Barisic turn the tie at the Bosulistadion on its head on Thursday evening, handing the Glasgow outfit the advantage heading into next week’s second leg.
It is a tie they could go into with one eye on lifting the Scottish Premiership trophy by mid-March, with a win over Mickey Mellon’s resurgent Dundee United edging them to within nine points off a first league title in a decade.
The Ibrox side are 15 points ahead of Celtic and are on course to win the title at the home of their Glasgow rivals as they did in 1998 should they continue their imperious Premiership form.
Mellon’s men were brushed aside on their last visit to Govan, going down 4-0 with little in the way of response.
But Gerrard refused to overlook the challenge posed by the Tannadice outfit after they secured back to back wins over Ross County and Livingston without conceding a goal.
And he warned his players to expect a battle against the Tangerines.
"There is a rivalry there so we know United will come to Ibrox ready to fight for everything," Gerrard added.
"They did that in the first game at Ibrox but unfortunately on the day they met us, we were really on top form.
"Micky is a manager I really respect and I know he's going to fire his troops up.
"But the focus will be on us. Our home form has been outstanding this season, 14 from 14 in the league. We want to improve on that."
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