BRENDAN RODGERS believes the Rangers players are SCARRED as a result of last season's dismal derby run.

Celtic beat the Ibrox men five times and drew once, the last victory a record away defeat in the fixture when they thrashed their city rivals 5-1.

And while the Parkhead boss acknowledged that Pedro Caixinha has a new-look team in terms of personnel and style, the previous defeats and performances, he believes, will not have been easily shrugged off over the summer.

Rodgers said: "Rangers are a new team. In fairness to Pedro, for whatever reason he’s not liked what he’s seen in the group. He’s gone out and been backed really well by the board to bring in players of substance and quality.

“So, it’s a lot of change there.

“But there will obviously still be scars there. There’s no question about that.

“But I always think it’s a new season, it’s only the beginning. So, the game should ge a great one, like they always are.

“There will also be players experiencing it for the first time.

“They all count but this is a different game, a different season.

“But if you’ve played six games and beaten an opponent five times and drawn one and been really convincing in a number of those games. then it’s hard not to feel something.

“It’s only natural. Players are only human. In that type of scenario after the third or fourth game there’s a feeling.

“It’s hard to explain but there’s a feeling ‘Christ, what’s going to happen here’. But we don’t think that way - we prepare for it as a new game and a fresh challenge for us.

“There’s lots of new players in there who will be experiencing it for the first time. We’ll just prepare well."

Rodgers was full of praise for his counter-part Caixinha who he congratulated for the manner in which the Portuguese has rebuilt his side over just a few months.

He also believes Rangers will play a more expansive style of football compared to the first two Old Firm games Caixinha managed in towards the end of the last campaign.

Rodgers said: "I think they’re a bit more direct. I felt when I first came in that they could build the game really well and securely from defence and work their way through.

“Now, they still open up and look to play - but the ball goes forward quicker.

“And the game is based around getting it wide and getting crosses in.

“So, yes, they have good players. Graeme Dorrans is a good player in midfield, Ryan Jack’s got experience of the league, Bruno Alves has very good experience.

"The young boy up front (Alfredo Morelos) looks energetic. He looks like he can get a goal in the box.

“Then you’ve still got one or two other players beginning to find their feet at the club, boys like Josh Windass.

“So it’s a different test for us, another test but one we’ll relish and look forward to.”