Ally McCoist has pinpointed the two missing ingredients from Rangers this season after they sold four key stars.

Three from departed quintet Calvin Bassey, Joe Aribo, Leon Balogun and Nathan Patterson may have brought in big money for the Ibrox club but they have weakened the team.

Liverpool thrashed the Ibrox men 7-1 on their own patch in midweek, their fourth Champions League defeat on the bounce by three clear goals or more.

And McCoist points out that missing the quality and physicality these former players brought to the table has seen Rangers regress as a team this term. 

“Rangers are missing the quality and physicality of Bassey, Aribo, Balogun by the way, and Patterson,” he told BT Sport’s Scottish Football Extra.

“They’ve brought in Colak, who’s done extremely well and they’re missing Lawrence. But they haven’t replaced the ability and physicality of those players I mentioned.”

McCoist was then asked if the current team was "a million miles away" from last year's levels he didn't shirk the tough question.

He replied: “It is. I think Rangers have gone back the way since last year and that’s one of the reasons for it.

“I understand and share the fans’ frustration. What we saw in midweek wasn’t acceptable. It was not acceptable.”