Rangers icon Brian Laudrup is urging his former club to prey on Liverpool's defensive flaws and make a morale-boosting Champions League statement.
The Reds were two results from the Quadruple last season but Jurgen Klopp's proclaimed "mentality monsters" are suffering a crisis of confidence amid only two Premier League wins in eight games. Now Laudrup wants Rangers to banish their own self-doubt first which was evident in the meek 2-0 defeat at Anfield last week.
The Danish wing king is urging Gio van Bronckhorst to go bold and take the game to a side that has been shipping goals and were thumped by Napoli on matchday one. Speaking in the Daily Mail, he said: "You want to see Van Bronckhorst's side at least try to capitalise on any vulnerabilities. Because Rangers were afraid of getting battered, they pretty much handed it to Liverpool at Anfield. They played to the opposition's strengths. That can't happen again.
"In the English Premier League, it's different. Teams are having a go because they know Liverpool are not as quick in midfield and defence as they were and, in some respects, it's an ageing team. They have only won two of their eight league games and lost heavily to Napoli in Europe.
"I repeat, Liverpool still have abundant top-level talent. But even the best can have confidence affected by form. I've seen it in teams. Doubt creeps in. It might not last long, but it's there. If they have a difficult start at Ibrox, if Rangers don't let them settle in the easy manner they did at Anfield, then you just don't know how the game will pan out.
"Remember, it's still all for Liverpool to lose. Regardless of any issues, they are expected to come to Glasgow and win. Anything else will lead to more scrutiny. From a Rangers perspective, they need to produce something that builds belief. On the pitch and in the stands. A first goal in the group would be a starting point.
"It will be fascinating to see what changes Van Bronckhorst makes. The 5-4-1 set-up didn't work at Anfield. Liverpool still had plenty of chances so you wonder if it's time to revert to a back four and have another body in midfield. To me, the attacking runs of Scott Arfield could give the visiting defence something to think about."
Laudrup is adamant it's time for Antonio Colak to get the nod ahead of Alfredo Morelos with the free-scoring striker aiming to translate his goal exploits at domestic level into the Champions League. The former Malmo man can't stop scoring in the Premiership and is raring for the chance to take on Virgil van Dijk and Co.
He added: "It also makes me think you need to pick players whose own self-belief can feed into the team. And who is on a bigger high right now than Antonio Colak?
"Eight of his 10 Premiership goals have come at Ibrox. He responds to the place, feeds off it and enjoys the domination Rangers have been able to exert at home in domestic games. "It's different in the Champions League, of course. Even so, I still feel there's a strong case for him to be given the nod against Liverpool.
"That's not any slight on Alfredo Morelos, who has been talismanic in Europe before, but Colak is in lethal form. Another double against St Mirren on Saturday made it 13 goals in his last 14 appearances. He comes alive in the box. We know that. He isn't the quickest but if Rangers can find the route to create chances then he will finish them."
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