FORMER Celtic striker Chris Sutton reckons that Rangers will be looking nervously over their shoulders with the first Old Firm of the season looming - and has questioned whether the Ibrox side could "implode" in a similar manner to the Hoops last term.

The two Glasgow clubs were in action on Thursday night as they booked their places in the group stage of the Europa League, with the Gers drawing 0-0 away to Alashkert and Celtic slipping to a 2-1 defeat to AZ.

Sutton was covering his old team's loss in the Netherlands but insisted that Steven Gerrard and his players will be WORRIED by Celtic's performance against the Dutch outfit.

And after the previous campaign that saw the Hoops blow their mission for 10-in-a-row, Sutton has called for Ange Postecoglou's men to "wipe the floor" with their rivals this Sunday - arguing that Rangers' title bid could "implode".

Speaking on Premier Sports, Sutton insisted: “What happened last season was an embarrassment for the club.

“But there are signs now that Celtic are turning a corner and have turned a corner.

“So give the manager a chance to go and wipe the floor with Rangers.

“I don’t know what’s going on across the city this season. They were very fortunate they got Alashkert who were hopeless.

“They were absolutely hopeless and Rangers only managed to scrape through.

“And Celtic have a chance of turning things over. Whether it’s complacency across the city? I don’t know.

“But if I was Rangers I would be looking over my shoulder and be worried about Celtic.

“We saw the way Celtic imploded last season, could it happen with Rangers?”