Steven Gerrard urges his players 'do our supporters proud' in Sunday's Old Firm Derby

There will only be about 800 visiting fans at Parkhead on Sunday after the Ladbrokes Premiership champions reciprocated Rangers' decision to slash the number of away fans by about 90 per cent.

But Gerrard will tell his players to make the Rangers fans watching on television proud after being wowed by a noisy reception when they landed at Glasgow Airport in the early hours of Friday after booking their place in the Europa League group stages in Russia.

"Of course we would like more support there, that goes without saying, but what we do know is we'll have support all around the world,'' Gerrard said.

"We landed at one-thirty in the morning and there were thousands of people there ready to get behind the team and support the team. The support is incredible here.

"Even though we won't have big numbers in the stadium, the players will be well aware that we'll be getting support from all over the place. The idea will be to get a result that makes them proud.

"It was a surprise, that late. One-thirty in the morning and there's thousands of people there. But it just goes to show what they have gone to achieve together, from where they were 12 months ago to the feeling amongst the supporters now. The players have really dug deep to get the supporters back where we want them.''

Rangers held on for a 1-1 draw against Ufa despite going down to nine men after both Alfredo Morelos and Jon Flanagan were sent off.

The draw extended Gerrard's unbeaten start in management to 12 matches and he admitted it was a major lift ahead of his reunion with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.

"Thursday night was magnificent for everyone connected,'' he said. "Everyone's back in a good place. We had a little bump in the road at Motherwell late doors, and the idea was to get the good feeling back.

"We wanted to go into this game in a good place and we're going in in a good place. We are confident. It's all about recovery now and trying to get energy back in the legs and trying to freshen up mentally for the challenge on Sunday.

"It's a big game against a tough team. I obviously know the manager and the coaching staff at Celtic very well, who I respect a lot. But we are going there confident and really looking forward to the challenge.''

The former Liverpool captain has attended Old Firm derbies as a spectator and he knows his players will have to be mentally strong.

"The first thing that comes into your thinking is the atmosphere at the start of the game,'' he said.

"Celtic are renowned for coming out the blocks very quick, like a lot of big clubs that I have experienced playing for or against. They always want to get the crowd in their favour and start the game very well.

"So it's very important my players are ready from the first whistle and we are not caught cold.'

• superscoreboard