Kilmarnock vs Rangers Prediction: Both teams looking to have a win start

Kilmarnock will play host to Rangers on the opening weekend of the 2023–24 Scottish Premiership season. The match will take place at Rugby Park with a late start on Saturday. Killie ended the previous season in third place, six points above the bottom two teams, while the Gers finished seventh, seven points behind league champions Celtic.

Kilmarnock's primary objective in the previous campaign was to prevent an instant return to the Championship after achieving promotion to the Premiership in 2021–22. In the end, the East Ayrshire club was successful in avoiding relegation to the lower division of play. Killie ended the previous season six points clear of the two teams that finished in last place in the league, despite losing 20 of their 38 league matches and picking up 11 wins and seven draws along the way. This was partly due to a run of three victories in the final four matches. After starting the new year with a record of one victory, three draws, and six losses, the team managed to turn things around and win five of their remaining nine games to ensure their team's survival. This allowed them to avoid relegation to a lower division. Derek McInnes's side is now safe. Kilmarnock began their 2023–24 season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Annan Athletic in the Scottish League Cup on July 15, 2023. Subsequent victories against Dunfermline and Albion Rovers have allowed them to assume control of Group F. In the end, McInnes will be seeking to build continuity and stability at Rugby Park in 2023–24. This is due to the fact that Killie have gone through relegation, promotion, and a close shave over the course of the previous three seasons.

Rangers can consider it a stroke of bad luck that they did not win the Premiership title in the previous season despite ending 35 points ahead of the third-placed Aberdeen team. Michael Beale's squad finished seven points behind Celtic in the standings, which allowed Celtic to win the championship. Despite the fact that the Gers only lost four of their 38 league games during the previous season, scoring 93 goals while only conceding on 37 occasions, they were unable to keep up with their Old Firm competitors and were consequently forced to settle for second place once again. Nevertheless, Rangers will be confident of dethroning Celtic in 2023–24 following Ange Postecoglou's departure from Parkhead. The Australian manager led the Bhoys to five titles in two years before leaving for Tottenham Hotspur, and Rangers will be hoping to capitalize on this opportunity. Rangers only managed to win one of their four warm-up matches during the month of July, losing to Newcastle United and Olympiacos while prevailing over Hamburger SV. It would not be unjust to state that the Rangers had an average preseason because of this fact. The Gers fought back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Hoffenheim in their most recent outing, with goals from James Tavernier and Sam Lammers in the second half, and they will look to carry that momentum into the next season of competition.

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:

Dennis; Mayo, Findlay, Deas; Murray, Lyons, Magennis, Kennedy; Armstrong, Cameron, Watkins

Rangers possible starting lineup:

Butland; Tavernier, Lundstrum, Souttar, Yilmaz; Cantwell, Raskin, Dowell; Dessers, Roofe, Lammers

Rangers appear to be on track to start their Premiership campaign with a relatively easy victory over Kilmarnock, who have lost each of their last six matches against the Glasgow giants. Rangers are determined to stay pace with Celtic in the 2023–24 season, and they look to be on track to do so.