He made his senior managerial debut on 12 July, where he oversaw Rangers to a 2–0 UEFA Europa League win over Macedonian side Shkupi. However, Gerrard's first game in charge of the club in the domestic league was a 1–1 draw against Aberdeen, away from home. Under Gerrard's management, Rangers went twelve matches unbeaten in all competitions from the start of the season before finally suffering defeat on 2 September, losing 1–0 to rivals Celtic in the Old Firm derby. On 29 December, in the reverse fixture, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first win over Celtic since 2012, in a game that ended with a 1–0 scoreline.