It wasn’t just the Ibrox crowd Steven Gerrard has called on to help Rangers overcome Malmo at Ibrox next week - several of his trusted lieutenants have also been told, in no uncertain terms, to raise their game if they’re to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

The Light Blues looked sluggish and off the pace as the Swedish champions raced into a two-goal lead, just minutes into the second half only for Steven Davis to net deep in stoppage time to give them hope.

Speaking afterwards Gerrard told Rangers TV: "We are disappointed with the result, disappointed with a couple of the goals we conceded but I think there has just been a big moment at the very end of that game that has obviously gone in our favour," he said.

"It is a big moment, in my opinion, and it sets it up for next week. It is not the position that we wanted to be in, but it is obviously better than going in 2-0 [down] and we were also maybe on the verge of going in even worse as well.

READ MORE: Steven Davis laments 'minutes of madness' as Rangers lose to Malmo

"The injury time has been big for us, but our performance over the 90 minutes hasn’t been good enough.

"We are going to have to go up levels individually and collectively next week.

"I am going to call on the Ibrox crowd. I have never done it before, but we are going to need them.

"We are going to need them for a full 90 minutes. With that behind us and the mentality change in injury time, it could be a big moment."

Since taking over the Ibrox hot seat in 2018, Gerrard has relied on his big players to put in towering performances on the continent, from Maribor to Ufa, Legia Warsaw to Porto, Benfica to Braga, they have always stood up and been counted.

In 19 qualifying matches, albeit in a lesser competition, he has never lost a single game.

Until last night.

Many of those who can often be heavily relied upon, fell way below the standards expected.

Yes, you must factor in the fact this was Rangers second competitive game of the season and they were going up against a side well into their league campaign and riding high.

But Gerrard lives and breathes for European competition, he’ll always demand more and he has done.

Speaking afterwards, he said: “At the weekend I’m hoping to have Aribo, Kamara, Roofe available, Balogun, obviously big Jon (McLaughlin) comes back into the thinking as well, so we’ll be a lot stronger in terms of the squad at the weekend.

“We’ll need to be, and we’ll need to perform better.

“I’ve just said to the boys in there, my honest opinion is there’s six or seven that need to raise their level and raise it sharply.”

That final line can be translated as him giving the players in question a proverbial ‘rocket up the backside’ inside the dressing room.

The players he alluded to will know themselves they have to improve next Tuesday - you cannot afford an off-night at this level.

READ MORE: Detailed Rangers player ratings as Steven Davis strike keeps Champions League dream alive

As Gerrard mentioned, Rangers were without a number of key players who would’ve, most definitely, made an impact this evening.

The two notable omissions are Glen Kamara and Alfredo Morelos.

The midfield three didn’t quite work as well as we have come to expect but perhaps that's understandable given Scott Arfield is a bit-part player and new arrival John Lundstram is still to get up to speed.

As much as Cedric Itten led the line well, showing good strength and neat touches at times, particularly in the first half, he doesn’t frighten defences like Morelos at his best. We’ve seen the Colombian destroy backlines in the Europa League and the difference when he is not in the team is clear for all to see.

Although Gerrard didn't mention him during his post-match interview, Rangers fans will be hoping El Bufalo will swap running around car parks with leading the line at Tannadice as a European warm-up.

He thrives on these types of nights, often popping up with priceless goals. Who can forget Legia, Galatasaray, Rapid Vienna and Porto?

But whether Rangers' record European goalscorer returns or not, Gerrard needs his big players to wake up and seize the opportunity in front of them.

Will he get a reaction? He can’t afford not to.