Preview: Rangers vs. Dundee United - prediction, team news, lineups

Rangers will head into their Scottish Premiership encounter with Dundee United on Sunday hoping to maintain their perfect home record and win their 15th league game of the season at Ibrox.

Meanwhile, the Tangerines are looking to win three successive league matches in the top-flight for the first time since March 2014.

Match preview

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Rangers extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 matches courtesy of a thrilling 4-3 victory away at Royal Antwerp on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.

Steven Gerrard 's side led with a strike from Joe Aribo and then equalised twice through Borna Barisic and Ryan Kent, before the Croatian left-back converted his second penalty of the match in the 90th minute to snatch the win in Belgium.

The Gers have now lost only one of their last 40 matches in all competitions this season - a 3-2 defeat in the Scottish League Cup against St Mirren back in December.

One downside to Thursday night's victory were the injuries sustained to captain James Tavernier and Kemar Roofe, with both players limping off before half time.

With Tavernier's understudy Nathan Patterson self-isolating after breaching coronavirus protocols, Gerrard has suggested that the club may have bring in a new right-back in an "emergency situation" if the 29-year-old's knee injury is worse than first feared.

Rangers now turn their attention to the Scottish Premiership and will face Dundee United, who they have beaten in seven of their last eight top-flight league games against them.

The Gers - who are just four wins away from clinching the title - would move 18 points clear of rivals Celtic with a victory on Sunday before the Hoops play later that evening away at Ross County.

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Dundee United claimed back-to-back league victories for the first time this campaign courtesy of an impressive 3-0 home win against Livingston last weekend.

Despite the first-half dismissal of midfielder Peter Pawlett, a first-minute strike from Adrian Sporle and a brace from Lawrence Shankland confirmed all three points for the Tangerines.

Micky Mellon has stated that his side now have 'new standards to maintain' and that they collectively have to aim to improve even further in order to climb back into the top six.

Dundee United travel to Ibrox having won only three top-flight matches away from home so far this season - the fewest in the division along with Kilmarnock.

The Tangerines have also lost both of their previous encounters with Rangers this campaign by a combined scoreline of 6-1.

Dundee United are currently in seventh place, level on points with St Mirren, but causing an upset and ending the Gers' unbeaten league run could see Mellon's team move up to sixth.

Rangers Scottish Premiership form: DWWWDW

Rangers form (all competitions): WWWDWW

Dundee United Scottish Premiership form: DLLLWW

Team News

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Rangers defender Leon Balogun is set to fill in at right-back for the injured Tavernier, while Kent, who began the match against Antwerp on the bench, is set to start ahead of Roofe.

Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos, who has recently served a three-game domestic ban, is in contention to start up front ahead of Cedric Itten.

Dundee United are still without Declan Glass, whose anterior cruciate ligament injury is set to keep him sidelined for the rest of the season, while Logan Chalmers is also out with an ankle problem.

With midfielder Pawlett suspended, striker Nicky Clark could come into the side and partner Shankland up front, while defender Mark Connolly could also start in a back five for the visitors.

Rangers possible starting lineup:

McGregor; Balogun, Goldson, Helander, Barisic; Davies, Jack, Aribo; Hagi, Morelos, Kent

Dundee United possible starting lineup:

Siegrist; Smith, Edwards, Connolly, Reynolds, Robson; Butcher, Fuchs, Harkes; Shankland, Clark

We say: Rangers 2-0 Dundee United

Gerrard may be tempted to rest one or two players against Dundee United, with one eye on their second leg tie with Royal Antwerp in the Europa League next Thursday.

However, Rangers are expected to name a strong enough side that should have enough quality to claim all three points at Ibrox, moving them one step closer to their first top-flight title since 2011.

Top tip

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