Aberdeen loan star Leighton Clarkson insists Aberdeen are ready to be brave in possession against Rangers.
Liverpool midfielder Clarkson is not fazed by playing in front of 50,000 Rangers fans at Ibrox on Saturday.
Clarkson relishes big games, having started in Champions League for Liverpool.
The 21-year-old midfielder believes courage on the ball is the key to beating under pressure Rangers.
Should Aberdeen win at Ibrox, it would slash the gap on second-placed Rangers to just four points.
Clarkson said: “Bravery is important.
“When you come up against big teams, it doesn’t matter where, even in Spain or England, then you need to have that bravery on the ball.
“Although you show them the respect they deserve, you get after them.
“We also need to do all the basics well, defend together and hopefully we can go on and win the game.”
Clarkson not fazed by Ibrox challenge
The prospect of playing at Ibrox does not faze Clarkson, who has played on one of the biggest stages in world club football – the Champions League.
Clarkson started for six-time European champions Liverpool in the Group D clash away to FC Midtjylland in December 2020.
He played the entire 90 minutes and impressed in the 1-1 draw.
Clarkson has also started at Anfield for Liverpool in the FA Cup – a 1-0 defeat of Shrewsbury.
He said: “I’ve played at Anfield a couple of times, I played away to Midtjylland in the Champions League, which is a decent stadium.
“So I feel that nervousness has gone.
“I’m quite relaxed before big games so I can’t wait to get on the pitch at Ibrox and put on a good performance.
“It is something from a young age that I have been a part of.
“Coming up through Liverpool, you had the Man Citys, the Evertons, they were the games you looked forward to.
“I just can’t wait to play and see how it goes against Rangers.”
Aware of the enormity of the game
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin revealed he discussed the significance of playing Rangers with the club’s summer signings earlier this week.
Goodwin said he underlined how much triumphing in the fixture means to Aberdeen supporters, and that it is more than three points.
Clarkson insists he is well aware of the enormity of the fixture and was even told about it prior to arriving on loan from Anfield.
He said: “When I was speaking to the manager on the phone before I came up, he mentioned the likes of Ibrox and Celtic Park.
“He told me about the rivalry and stuff like that.
“It is a rivalry, there’s no need to play it down.
“It is a massive game, there’s a bit more riding on it.
“I already knew how big the two clubs are.
“It’s a game I’m looking forward to and I’m sure all the other boys are as well.
“However, it is one that we are confident we can go there and give it our best shot.”
🤯 👏🏽
🔥 Leighton Clarkson. 🔥#StandFree | #cinchPrem pic.twitter.com/QaLcIoQpR9
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) August 21, 2022
Aberdeen in form, but Gers struggling
Clarkson has made an impressive start to his season-long loan from the Anfield giants.
He scored a sensational long-range strike on his debut in a 4-1 defeat of St Mirren at Pittodrie.
Then he netted a sublime free-kick in the 1-0 win at St Johnstone.
Clarkson has been key to Aberdeen’s run of three successive wins as they travel to Ibrox with confidence high.
In contrast, Rangers are under pressure, having suffered another heavy defeat in Europe on Wednesday.
Rangers have lost all five Champions League group games and conceded 19 goals following the 3-0 midweek loss in Napoli.
Domestically it is not much better for Rangers, who were booed off the pitch by angry fans after a 1-1 draw with 10-man Livingston last weekend.
Clarkson prefers to concentrate on the positives of Aberdeen’s winning form rather than Rangers’ troubles.
He said: “The last three games we have won we have focused on ourselves rather than the opposition.
“It has paid off, so I don’t see why we should look at what Rangers are doing and how it is behind the scenes.
“We need to perform to the best of our ability and hopefully it is enough.
“We are not focused on anything to do with them.
“Our focus is on us and we feel, if we get eight or nine out of 10 all over the pitch, we can cause them a lot of problems.
“I’m focused on doing my bit for the team, hopefully get a win or even a draw – a good result that will put more points on the table.”
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