STEVEN GERRARD has admitted Rangers will need to spend some serious money if they're to compete with teams in Europe.

Sparta Prague rolled over the Gers 1-0 in the Czech capital last night, making it two defeats from two games in this season's Europa League. 

The result leaves the Ibrox outfit rock bottom of Group A and a mighty uphill task to qualify for the knockout rounds of the competition.

While there is still time to turn it around, Gerrard knows he needs to find a settled side sooner rather than later.

Asked about his side lacking the spark they so evidently had last season, Gerrard gave his views - as he admitted the club haven't spent a penny in the past two transfer windows.

He told the media: "You're well within your rights to read in to whatever we do tactically here or my selection.

"We as a staff and me as a manager are trying to find the perfect solution to get a settled team that will play with this spark and bit of life that we have been missing. 

"We're not concerned or worried here though - we know where we are. 

"We've been short in the two Europa League games, but at this level - which is improving year in, year out - if we want to keep growing and going to the next level we need to spend big money in transfer windows. It's as simple as that.

"To compete against the teams we've got to spend big money. 

"In the last two windows we haven't spent a penny. So, there has to be some realism there as well. 

"To compete with these teams and to beat them on their own patch, we have to spend money to compete at this level. 

"There needs to be a little bit of common sense when looking at this from the outside. 

"This spark that you're talking about, it'll come, trust me, because we've got really good players here.

"It'll come quicker if we can find this settled team."