If anyone thought there would be any let-up in Steven Gerrard after last season's title success then they haven't been paying attention to the career of the Rangers boss.
There are countless examples since taking the reins in 2018 of him consistently demanding the upmost of his players on a daily basis.
Current and former Rangers stars have spoken at length of a boss who is firm but fair in his quest for perfection both in training and during matches.
But Gerrard has never been afraid to get tough and he delivered a broadside to the runaway Premiership champions in the wake of their 1-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers.
The 41-year-old confessed his players had been worked during training but he still expected more as Micky Mellon's side secured a victory at Prenton Park.
Gerrard spoke plainly as he warned "If you’re not performing now we can’t carry anyone, the season is so important as we move along.", with crucial Champions League qualifiers looming next month.
Record Sport runs the rule over the players who are likely need to up their game or face an uncertain future at Ibrox.
Glenn Middleton
It's unclear who Gerrard was pointing at when he hit out at players "jumping out of tackles" but Middleton didn't cover himself in glory during the first half as he lost out on a 50/50 ball. If the Scotland youth international doesn't make the grade at Ibrox then there would be likely a host of suitors for his signature. His brilliance inspired St Johnstone into the Scottish Cup Final as he discovered a defined role in Callum Davidson's robust system and his magic in the final third was a big hit at McDiarmid Park. The 21-year-old needs regular game time and that's something he hasn't had at Ibrox since the first half of the 2018/19 season. A versatile player who can play in multiple positions behind a main striker - he was deployed in an unfamiliar left back role on Saturday. The clock is ticking if he is to make the grade at Rangers. Middleton has two years remaining on his current Ibrox deal.
George Edmundson
A likeable guy who excelled during a loan spell at Derby County but his role as the club's fourth central defensive option is now occupied by Jack Simpson. Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Leon Balogun are clearly ahead of him and Niko Katic will also have something to say as he works himself back to full fitness after a horror knee injury. His aerial challenge success rate (56 per cent) dropped last season but his determination and endeavour makes him an obvious target for sides in the English Championship. Wayne Rooney also deployed him in a sitting role in midfield but he has yet to be afforded such an opportunity at Ibrox.
Brandon Barker
Even if Barker's time at Ibrox ends imminently it may well be regarded as a missed opportunity rather than a poor signing. Rangers have expertly built their squad with a core or 13 to 14 players under Gerrard and Ross Wilson while bulking out the squad with young players itching to prove a point. Barker is a throwback in that he is best when slaloming towards goal and either getting a cross or shot away. But the 23-year-old has never been a nailed down starter despite impressing in big games such as the 1-1 draw away to Porto during the 2018/19 season. But he didn't play nearly as well in the return match and he spent last season on loan with Oxford. Barker has one year remaining on his current deal. He also operates predominantly from the left as does new man Fashion Sakala.
Jordan Jones
A player who bears similarities to Barker in that he is a bit of a throwback but Jones' Rangers career has been defined by two lapses of judgement. He fractured his own leg trying to wipe out Moritz Bauer in defeat to Celtic and then was caught breaching lockdown rules alongside Edmundson last season. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Sunderland where he thrilled at the Stadium of Light amid their promotion push. He was excellent under Lee Johnson and earned rave reviews for his displays in wins over Oxford, Plymouth and Portsmouth. But it's hard to remember many established players earning a key role after being loaned out and returning to the same manager. Jones is contracted at the club until 2023.
Cedric Itten
Itten was only signed last summer but his game time decreased as the undefeated Premierships season progressed. The 22-year-old probably wishes he could play Motherwell every week with with four of his six Rangers goal coming against the Steelmen. The former St Gallen forward established himself as something of a super sub during the winter months but he doesn't offer the type of movement that Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and even Jermain Defoe do.
You can't knock his effort but he never really kicked on from his impressive efforts in the final group stage win over Lech Poznan in December. There's no reason why he can't kick on this time around but there are certainly some unanswered questions. Itten scored in the friendly win over Partick Thistle.
