There's being up against it, and there's being up against it...and then there's needing a 5-0 win over Ajax to progress in Europe.
That's the Herculean task facing Rangers if they are to drop into the Europa League and secure European football after Christmas, and let's face it, it's almost certainly not going to happen. Gio van Bronckhorst and his team have just a single goal to show from their five defeats on the spin, and for all intents and purposes, they are out.
Most bookies are offering an incredible 200/1 on Rangers to pick up the result they need while Bet365 are offering as much as 350/1...so if you're fancying their chances of a biblical fightback then now is your chance to put your money where your mouth is and make some cash. Before you do, though, here are some things that bookies think are far more likely...just to put it into perspective.
Neil Lennon to replace Gio (33-1)
With Van Bronckhorst's job looking on a knife-edge after that defeat to Napoli, most bookies are already offering odds on who will replace him. The contenders are a mixed bag - from Michael Beale and Sean Dyche to wildcard Kjetil Knutsen, or even an outlandish return for Steven Gerrard.
And Betfair even think Celtic hero Neil Lennon getting the job if and when Van Bronckhorst leaves is a more likely scenario than the Dutchman getting the Ajax upset for the ages that would save his Ibrox dugout spell. Not sure many Rangers fans would take to him, mind you!
Tyson Fury to win the WWE Royal Rumble (66-1)
It's nearly Road to Wrestlemania season in the WWE and one man threatening to break onto the scene from the UK is former two-time heavyweight champion boxer Tyson Fury. He 'knocked out' Austin Theory when WWE came to Wales back in September and was seen posing after the show with Scot and big Rangers supporter Drew McIntyre, who main-evented against Brock Lesnar.
Reports have been rife that Fury is set for another appearance soon and maybe even a match. The Royal Rumble is coming up and that's the event where WWE like a random guest star or too - but could Fury even go on to win it and earn a crack at the title?
Probably not.
Roy Hodgson to replace Jurgen Klopp (100-1)
Rangers have had a front row seat to just how far Liverpool have come since the heady days of Roy Hodgson. Even in a transitional phase under Jurgen Klopp, they put seven goals past Gers at Ibrox and delivered a harrowing lesson on the standard of football required to compete at Champions League level.
Klopp though finds himself under a bit of pressure after a sticky start to the season that already sees them 12 points off top spot. And while he's in no imminent danger of the sack, reports down south have already begun speculating over who could eventually replace him.
The list is as long as your arm, but one of the options coming in right down the list at 100-1 is a return for Hodgson, who has been retired since being sacked by Watford this year!
Suella Braverman be PM after next General Election (100-1)
You're already tired of seeing her name in the headlines, aren't you? The disgraced MP who was sacked as Home Secretary by Liz Truss for data breaches and breaking ministerial code, only to be nonchalantly brought back by new PM Rishi Sunak like it was nothing.
Anyway, when we do eventually get a general election, you're getting 100/1 on her to be elected as Prime Minister. That would of course require the Tories to win it, and, eh...
Ewan McGregor to be next James Bond (100-1)
Yeah. Probably more chance of this to be fair.
After five movies, Daniel Craig is now over and out as 007. No Time to Die was the thrilling finale to his era and his iconic portrayal of the character is going to take some replacing.
Henry Cavill? Tom Hardy? Idris Elba? Nah, give it to Obi Wan Kenobi.
Newcastle to win the Premier League (150-1)
English football is already looking like something of a two-horse race. A two-horse race where one of the horses has a two-point lead, but the other one has Erling Haaland, so it's probably going to be that one that wins.
You'd be a brave person to stick money on a team not named Arsenal or Manchester City at this stage, but if you did fancy an outside shout, Saudi-backed Newcastle are looking decent value. They've lost just one game in 12...but it does say a lot about the predictability of English football that even with that record, you're still getting as much as 150-1 on the Magpies who haven't won a major trophy in more than half a century.
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