Steven Gerrard makes Celtic admission before Derby clash

Steven Gerrard has made an honest admission heading into the Glasgow Derby against Celtic set to be played at Ibrox.

There is still a game to be played against Dundee United before the Glasgow Derby but you’d have to think that Celtic fans already half an eye on the all important game against the Rangers.

While the Glasgow Derby is always a huge game for both sides, this one will be even more important for the Hoops with the fate of the 10IAR hanging in the balance. A win and they’ll be back in the thick of things. A defeat and it might be as good as over.

The two sides’ fortunes couldn’t have been any different this season. The Rangers are 16 points clear at the top of the table. And although they have three games in hand, you wouldn’t bet on Celtic to win them all judging by the form that they have been in recently. Unless they find a way to turn things on their head. And that will hopefully start at Ibrox.

Steven Gerrard clearly knows that the Hoops are good enough to do that and he is not looking past them. As reported by The Athletic, he said:

"“It’s my job to try and keep the players grounded and humble and realise there’s still tons and tons of games to play. You know the game very well yourself and I’ve also had experience of this as a player. December is never a time to get carried away, whatever your lead is. There are no guarantees.“Celtic are a very good team. Yes, they’ve had a rough patch of form, but you’re talking about a group that have serial winners amongst them, a manager with experience, so we know it’s certainly not a time to get ahead of ourselves. The focus for me is the next game and the next challenge.”"

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It looks like the Rangers have learned from their past mistake of thinking that the league was over in December itself the last time around. And as we have seen in the past two years, they are very capable of suffering a collapse in the second half of the season.

Many will also argue that Celtic have already steadied the ship. While they are not at their swaggering best, five straight wins has helped them rediscover some of their form. And the introduction of fresh faces into the team means that they are a hungry side right now.

Now, Neil Lennon’s cannot make the mistake of looking past Dundee United. If there is anything we have learned over the past few months, it is that any team can win on their day. And while Gerrard seems to be aware of that, let’s hope his players are not.