Times Talker: Rodgers' Celtic invincibles vs Gerrard's current Rangers crop - who wins?

Steven Gerrard's Light Blues have dominated proceedings in the Scottish Premiership this season and they could still win the title at Celtic Park if results go their way. 

The Ibrox outfit are unbeaten in the league this term and are set to end Celtic's quest for 10-in-a-row. 

Brendan Rodgers helped Celtic along the way to nine titles on the bounce when he arrived at Parkhead in 2016. The Northern Irishman inspired unparalleled dominance and success, even by Celtic’s standards.

His side became known as the ‘invincibles’, going undefeated in an astonishing 47 domestic matches and winning a domestic treble in Rodgers’ first season in charge.

But who would win if Steven Gerrard’s 2020/21 Rangers team went up against Brendan Rodgers’ 2016/17 Celtic side? Two of our Herald and Times Sport writers have had their say...

Treble winning Celtic get the nod from Aidan Smith...

Two words – the treble. I think that fairly ends the case of who is the better side in this argument. Brendan Rodgers’ team went the whole season without losing a game domestically and that is a simply incredible statistic.  

Yes, Steven Gerrard’s current side have the possibility of still winning the Scottish Cup this term, but their League Cup hopes were dashed as they suffered a shock defeat to St Mirren in Paisley at the quarter-final stage. That must have been a real sucker punch to all connected with the Ibrox outfit, especially with their arch-rivals Celtic already out of the competition.  

Kieran Tierney, Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong were key for Celtic in their invincible season. But I actually think the current Rangers side is a far stronger team on paper. Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Steven Davis, Glenn Kamara, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Connor Goldson, James Tavernier and Allan McGregor have all been consistently outstanding for Gerrard’s outfit.  

Europe must also come into contention. Gerrard, who was so successful in European competition as player, has turned his team into a such a dangerous force in the Europa League. The form they are producing on Thursday evenings at the minute makes you fancy them to score against anyone. It remains to be seen how far they can go this term, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they make it to the dying stages, especially with the league wrapped up early doors.  

Celtic under Rodgers were a bit of a disappointment in Europe, however their campaigns were at a different level. The Champions League is the best of the best and incomparable to its baby brother, the Europa League. The way Celtic played that season and the dominance they had domestically would probably have seen them go a long way in the second-tier competition, but we will never know that for a fact.  

To summarise, in terms of domestic competition both teams have produced stunning form domestically in their respective seasons. For me though, Celtic’s invincibles have to edge it with their momentous treble etched into the history books. This season has the feeling that this is just the start for Rangers though and I wouldn’t be surprised if they completed a similar feat in the near future.

Joshua Barrie sides with Steven Gerrard's Rangers...

Comparatively as things stand, there is little to separate the two sides domestically. The exception of course being Steven Gerrard’s inability to win either the League Cup or Scottish Cup with Rangers. I think that owes more to mindset than ability and perhaps some of the remaining scar tissue from Rangers, best forgotten, years gone by that rears its head in pressurised moments. After all, there is not a team in Scotland this season that Rangers haven’t beaten comprehensively and convincingly. Even so, Celtic’s 2016/17 season saw them compete with a Rangers side far below them in finance and talent which is not something that can be levelled this year despite the difficulties at Parkhead. 

The best measure of the sides then is Europe, which I believe shows this Rangers side are a better team than Celtic’s Invincibles. Under Brendan Rodgers Celtic had great moments in Europe, but they also underwhelmed and were on the end of heavy defeats to Barcelona and PSG. True, Rangers have perhaps not yet faced that level of elite club in Europe but their performances against Porto and Benfica, alongside nine goals in their last round showcase that they are at their level in Europe. I don’t see this Rangers team losing 7-0 to anyone, as Celtic did to Barcelona that campaign.  

Will Rangers be Invincible or will the fragility that emerged once more in Paisley late last year suffice at some point? Even if it does, I think it is hard to argue against that the fact that Gerrard’s record in Europe shows this Rangers side are the better team. Rodgers' Celtic side were winners and until the league is tied up this year Gerrard’s team cannot yet claim to be. But I would fancy Rangers in a head-to-head.