Celtic head to Glasgow neighbours Rangers for the latest chapter of the Old Firm rivalry on Thursday, January 2.
The last meeting between these teams ended in a 3-3 draw after 120 gripping minutes of the Scottish League Cup final, with Celtic prevailing on penalties to claim the first major trophy of the season.
Brendan Rodgers’ team have a 14-point advantage at the top of the Premiership standings, so they know that another positive result this week at Ibrox could effectively end the title race even at this early stage, such is their dominance of the top tier.
Philippe Clement, meanwhile, will be desperate for a win that will not only avenge the cup-final heartbreak but ease some of the pressure on his position as manager.
Rangers vs. Celtic lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Clement said there is “a small chance” that Leon Balogun could return depending on how the centre-back progresses in training.
However, club captain James Tavernier has been ruled out “for a few weeks” after sustaining an injury, and with both John Souttar and Neraysho Kasanwirjo also sidelined, Rangers’ options are looking thin.
Clement may decide to follow the same sort of blueprint he used in the cup final, which very nearly paid dividends.
Rangers predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Butland (GK) — Yilmaz, Sterling, Propper, Jefte — Diomande, Raskin — Cerny, Bajrami, Cortez — Igamane
Injured: Tavernier, Souttar, Kasanwirjo, Balogun (doubt)Suspended: None
Celtic will be without long-term absentee Odin Thiago Holm and James Forrest, but Alistair Johnston has recovered from a hip-flexor injury and came through the win over St. Johnstone unscathed.
Daizen Maeda will probably come back into the starting lineup after his heroics in the cup final.
Celtic predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Schmeichel (GK) — Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Valle — Engels, Bernardo, Hatate — Kuhn, Maeda, Furuhashi
Injured: Thiago Holm, Forrest, Suspended: None
Rangers vs. Celtic live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Scottish Premiership match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
