STEVEN GERRARD wants his side to remain ‘focused’ and ‘concentrated’ as Gers head to Livingston to kick-off what could be a huge new month.
The Light Blues sit in an excellent position in the Scottish Premiership, and also have a Last 16 Europa League tie with Slavia Prague to look forward to in nine days’ time.
It’s a fantastic time to be a Ranger – but Gerrard wants his men to deal only with the task in hand – claiming three points at Almondvale tomorrow night.
"We have to stay focused and we have to stay concentrated as nothing is done or achieved,” the manager told today’s press conference. “We want to get over the line as quick as we can and the only way to do that is to respect Livingston.
"They are on the back of a tough weekend and we are aware they are going to be a little bit wounded and are going to want to react from that.
"So we have done everything we can in-terms of our preparation. We still have one session left to go this morning, but we are really looking forward to what is next and that is the only thing we should focus on.
"But, we have some wonderful opportunities in front of us in-terms of what March is going to present and we want to go and grab it and capitalise on it.
"The only way to do that is to go and find performances, and that is what we need to focus on.
"I think we will have to handle the environment and the pitch. It is an astroturf game which gives them an advantage.
"I think Davie [Martindale] has done a magnificent job with Livingston since he has become the number one coach.
"I know he was there prior and he had a big influence prior, but I see a more positive Livingston and a Livingston that is pressing higher and has more energy and more quality in it than previously with all due respect.
"I think the last game we played, we played against a low block that didn't have any ambition to come anywhere near our goal, and that was a challenge for us and we didn't have enough quality to break that down.
"But having analysed Livingston in-terms of the last 10-15 games that Davie has led, they are certainly more front-foot, they are pressing higher, they are more aggressive and they are creating more.
"So we see this as maybe a slightly different challenge to what we have faced previously.
"But it is one we need to be ready for. We will have to compete, we will have to fight, we will have to do the ugly side of the game and then hopefully, our quality will take over."
Gerrard also gave his reaction for the first time to drawing Slavia – this being the second season in succession Gers have reached this stage of the Europa League.
That was achieved with a 5-2 win over Royal Antwerp last week for an overall 9-5 aggregate success.
"I am really pleased and satisfied with our performance,” Gerrard said on the win over the Belgians. “I think it was an outstanding performance from the boys with a lot of superb attacking play and I think the first three goals we scored were high-level goals and we have praised the boys on the back of that performance.
"I think in-terms of the draw, I think it is an exciting draw for both teams and I think both teams are on a real, exciting journey from a personal point of view and have performed ever-so well against some high-level teams along the way.
"I think Slavia knocking Leicester out was a big coup for them because Leicester are going so well themselves.
"So they are going to come into the game full of confidence and rightly so, but we will be ready, we will be prepared and we have some real, important league games prior to that which we will need to focus on.
"But, we are really looking forward to those two games. I think they are mouthwatering and may the best team win and get to the last eight because that opportunity really excites us."
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