Kris Commons believes Steven Gerrard will want an all-out dominant win over Celtic this weekend to drill the nail into the coffin of their title challenge once and for all.

Gers have a staggering 16 point lead over their rivals headed into the action, albeit Celtic have three games in hand. But a win for the Light Blues would surely be enough to ensure the trophy heads to Ibrox this season instead of to Parkhead for a tenth year running.

Rangers have perfected a stout way of playing and defending in their Europa League ties to make themselves difficult to beat and hard to break down. But Commons reckons Gerrard will want his players to play a free-flowing style against Celts and all but seal up the Premiership in style.

The ex-Hoops ace wrote in his Daily Mail column: "It's a must-win game for Celtic, so I've heard it suggested that Rangers might look to play it almost as a European game and play largely on the counter. They've perfected that system in the Europa League over the past couple of seasons, but I don't see them playing it cagey like that.

"I believe Steven Gerrard will want his players to make a statement. They will see it as an opportunity to bury their rivals once and for all this season and put the final nail in the coffin. They will want to rub Celtic's nose in it and kill off any lingering chance of a title race. For Lennon and his players, they need to relish that challenge and defy the odds."

Celtic have Leigh Griffiths firing, now, and the Scotland cap has developed a partnership with Odsonne Edouard up front that has yielded goals. And Commons insists Neil Lennon would be mad not to utilise both players together again. "Given the problems Celtic have had at the back this season, I don't see them keeping a clean sheet against Rangers, he said.

"Their best form of defence will be to go on the attack. Even against a Rangers team with a miserly defence, their best chance of getting a result will be to try and go at it all guns blazing.

"They need to be brave. Why?

"Because they simply have no alternative. A draw is no use whatsoever to Celtic. This is a game they simply must win if they are to resurrect their title challenge.

"At the home of their greatest rivals, Celtic will know it's win or bust when they travel to fortress Ibrox next Saturday at lunchtime.

"I fully expect Edouard and Griffiths to play together up front. So the real question is how Celtic will shape up defensively."