Celtic need to get the better of arch-rivals Rangers this lunchtime to keep their Scottish Premiership title hopes alive.
Martin O’Neill’s men go into the Old Firm clash at Parkhead four points behind leaders Hearts following the Jambos’ 1-1 draw at Motherwell last night.
It is an unfamiliar position for Celtic to be the hunters but O’Neill thinks they are embracing the challenge.
“It’s not a position that the football club has found itself in recent years,” O’Neill said. “Generally speaking, they’ve gone clear and there’s been no opposition.
“There’s been plenty of opposition this year, not just from Rangers but obviously from Hearts.
“So it is a big, big change, not something that a number of these players have been used to. You have to get used to it. You’ve been chasing, you have to keep chasing.”
Rangers’ defeat at Heats last weekend effectively ended their challenge but Danny Rohl and his players would love to put a major dent in Celtic’s title aspirations.
Table of Contents
Celtic Team News
Celtic have a lengthy injury list, which features Colby Donovan (hamstring), Julian Araujo (thigh), Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder), Callum Osmand (hamstring), Adam Montgomery (calf), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) and Jota (knee ligaments).
Daizen Maeda limped off in last week’s win over Hibs but is fit to play.
Celtic: Sinisalo; Johnston, Trusty, scales, Tierney; McGregor, Engels, Nygren, McCowan, Yang; Maeda
Rangers Team News
Bailey Rice is Rangers’ only absentee, as he misses out with a muscle injury.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Rommens, Barron; Chukwuani, Diomande; Moore, Antman, Chermiti
Where to watch Celtic v Rangers: TV and online streams
Celtic v Rangers kicks off at 12:00pm this afternoon. It will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. It will also be available to stream via Sky Go.
Stats for Celtic v Rangers
- Celtic are winless in six league meetings with Rangers (D3 L3). They last went longer without a victory in the Old Firm game from September 1995 to November 1997 (10).
- Rangers have prevailed on their past two league visits to Celtic, as many as their previous 19 beforehand (W2 D4 L13). They last won three consecutive league games at Celtic in November 1992 under Walter Smith.
- Celtic have won their last four league games. Their longest Premiership winning run this term is five matches, which came in O’Neill’s first spell in interim charge from October to December.
- Rangers have lost their last two league matches, as many as their previous 39 beforehand (W21 D16 L2). They have not lost three successive Premiership games since October 2000 under Dick Advocaat.
- Having guided Rangers to a 3-1 win at Celtic Park in January, Rohl could become only the second Gers boss to win his first two away league games at their arch rivals. He would follow in the footsteps of Smith (first three from 1991 to 1992).
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