Former Celtic ace Paul Hartley believes Rangers face a must-win game against the Hoops this weekend, given their current position in the league standings. Steven Gerrard’s side are currently 10 points behind their Old Firm rivals at the top of the table and Hartley suggests that anything less than a win at the weekend could end their title prospects.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, the former Hoops midfielder said that the Gers have no choice other than go for maximum points, given the distance between them and their cross-town rivals. Should this not be the case, Hartley feels the Hoops will have the clear edge to secure an eighth successive Scottish Premiership title.

“He told Sky Sports: "They've got to win. Ten points behind,eight games to go, they've got to go there and try to win the game" .There's no point in going there and trying to sit back. Celtic can afford the draw but they'll be going to try to win the game. If they win it looks like that's the title over. Rangers know they can't afford any more slip ups. They are out of both cups, they may not “have any more silverware" for another year so it's a massive game for them."

Rangers managed to beat Celtic during the reverse league meeting but that was their first occasion in 13 attempts. Since then, they have suffered another defeat at the hands of the Hoops and they remain outsiders for the forthcoming meeting on the road. Rangers have endured a poor run of results at Parkhead and they go into the weekend’s game after failing to score in the past five meetings at the stadium. In the same period, Celtic have come victorious on four occasions while scoring an average of more than two goals per game.