The final scoreline stung like a Tyson Fury right-hander.But Michael Beale reckons it was the injury suffered by Connor Goldson on the night of their humiliating Liverpool hammering that delivered the most damaging blow to Rangers’ hopes this season.
October’s showdown with Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League heavyweights was always going to be a tough task for the Light Blues. Yet they were holding their own at Ibrox heading towards the break, all square with Scott Arfield’s goal putting them ahead before Bobby Firmino hit back for the Reds.All that changed, though, when Goldson - the almost ever-present rock at the heart of the Ibrox defence - was sent sprawling on the stroke of half-time after a collision with Anfield ace Darwin Nunez.
Without the Englishman, Gio van Bronckhorst’s team could barely raise a hand to protect themselves in the second period, suffering a 7-1 pummelling that entered the record books as the club’s worst ever home defeat.Domestically, the team has not fared much better either.
Two points behind Celtic the night Goldson went off against the Scousers, they now sit sparkled nine points behind Ange Postecoglou’s number-one ranked outfit with title hopes in tatters having kept just one clean sheet in the seven Premiership games the big centre-back has sat out since.New boss Beale hopes to finally start plugging those gaps at Pittodrie tonight with Goldson and Ben Davies in serious contention to start against Aberdeen.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk