Rangers predicted XI vs Dundee United as Tannadice opener sets scene for several competitive debuts in new era
Here’s how we think new manager Derek McInnes will set his starting XI in his first league match as Rangers boss
Rangers travel to Tannadice Park to face Dundee United in the opening fixture of the 2026/27 SPFL Premiership campaign.
New manager Derek McInnes - who WILL be on the touchline on Friday night after appealing his four-match ban is set to take charge of his first competitive Rangers match in the City of Discovery and will be tasked with completing a task Rangers haven’t completed in three years - winning their opener. The Light Blues have a had a strong pre-season in their new era but will now have to step it up at a tricky venue.
Defender Olwethu Makhanya became Rangers’ eighth signing of the summer window having finalised his move from Philadelphia Union on Thursday afternoon. McInnes is trying to create a new identity within the squad amid the summer rebuild. With several new faces are expected to start against the Tangerines, here’s how we think Rangers will set up at Tannadice, using McInnes’ preferred old-school formation of 4-4-2:
GK - Ivor Pandur
The £6m signing from Hull remains Rangers’ most expensive transfer of the summer. He’s been number one during pre-season and hasn’t put a foot wrong yet.
RB - Dujon Sterling
Led the team out in their last outing against West Ham. He won’t be wearing the armband on Friday night again, but is expected to get the nod over Ross McCrorie, who is carrying a knock.
CB - Ben Godfrey
Atalanta loanee has looked sharp in pre-season but, as we’ve seen before, might get a shock at how physical the Scottish game is. Perhaps too early for Makhanya to be thrust in.
CB - Emmanuel Fernandez
A huge player for Rangers for this fixture and beyond. If last season’s Player of the Year maintains his standards then the back line will be a lot more secure.
LB - Tuur Rommens
The Belgian remains Rangers’ only real out-and-out first team left back option and is therefore one of the first names on the team sheet.
CM - Cammy Devlin
Rangers’ standout in pre-season looks to be nailed on for the opener. He picked up a slight knock against the Hammers but McInnes claims he’s good to go on Friday night.
CM - Mohamed Diomande
A failed experimentation of deploying the Ivorian at right winger will most likely see him return to his preferred position in the midfield.
RM - Thelo Aasgaard
Also not a natural wide man, the Norwegian may be forced to do a job here in McInnes’ system, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him drift inside.
LM - Findlay Curtis
Coin toss between the youngster and Djeidi Gassama. But we think the Scotland international will just about get the nod for his work off the ball.
ST - Lawrence Shankland
The newly-appointed captain has the weight of the world on his shoulders now as Rangers fans hope he can emulate his goal tally for previous club Hearts.
ST - Youssef Chermiti
Shankland mostly played alongside Claudio Braga last season in Hearts’ over-achieving campaign. He’s now tasked with building a strong relationship with his countryman Chermiti in Rangers colours.