Celtic go into the second Old Firm clash of the season with a five-point lead over Rangers – would the title race be over before the winter break if the Hoops repeat their success at Ibrox in September?
Celtic Form and Team News
The Hoops are bidding for a 12th consecutive victory in the Scottish Premiership.
Neil Lennon’s side have kept seven clean sheets in that run and also beat Rangers in the League Cup Final earlier in the month.
They’ve just been keeping things ticking over this month having not managed to score more than twice in their last seven but they were far more comfortable winners at St Mirren on Boxing Day than the 2-1 scoreline suggests and the manager will be fielding all of his big guns for this fixture.
Celtic were probably lucky to beat the Gers at Hampden three weeks ago but did play the final third of that game with only 10 men following the dismissal of Jeremie Frimpong. The Dutch defender has more than made up for that blemish since, however, as Celtic have spread the goals around their squad. Frenchman Christopher Jullien has also contributed from defence and Celtic should be more potent once Odsonne Eduoard gets up to full speed.
The latter claimed assists in both Celtic goals at St Mirren and is still joint top scorer in the Premiership, despite missing recent weeks through injury. He netted in his team’s 2-0 win at Ibrox at the start of September and will be a key figure once again as the green and white half of Glasgow seek to maintain bragging rights over the blue half of the city until the next Old Firm derby comes around.
Scott Brown, so often a Rangers’ nemesis, will again anchor the home side’s midfield and will no doubt be trying to wind up Alfredo Morelos again. He’s had the Colombian’s number in previous meetings.
Scottish Premiership Betting at Mr Green
Ranger Form and Team News
We are barely halfway through the season but Rangers simply can’t afford to let Celtic get any further ahead in the title race if they want to keep Neil Lennon and his players on their toes after the winter break.
Steven Gerrard’s team do have a game in hand on their arch-rivals but that is not as important as points on the board.
The Gers have won their last three Premiership games without conceding a goal and haven’t lost in the league since September but have now played Celtic twice this year and have lost both without being able to breach the Hoops’ defence. They even missed a penalty in the League Cup Final and, no doubt, Celtic’s players will quickly remind the culprit of the fact that he’s had a personal nightmare against the champions in previous meetings.
Alfdero Morelos has been sparingly used by Gerrard in recent weeks but did come off the bench to find a winner against Kilmarnock on Boxing Day. That put him level on 12 goals with Eduoard and pundits are always keen to compare the merits of the pair when their teams meet.
Rangers also have Jermaine Defoe on 11 goals but the strikers are rarely paired together. The Ryans, Kent and Jack, are also key players for Rangers but their team-mates will have to shake off an inferiority complex if they are to get a win at Celtic Park for the first time in almost nine years.
Like their opponents, the Light Blues have almost a fully-fit squad to choose from so will have no excuses but they have to work out a way of hurting Celtic while keeping their discipline, and the back door shut.
Celtic vs Rangers Live Stats & Betting Odds
Celtic vs Rangers Head-to-Heads
Celtic have won nine of their last 11 matches against Rangers at Celtic Park in all competitions with two games drawn. Though the gap has closed, Celtic have already beaten their Old Firm rivals twice this season. None of the last six meetings have produced more than three goals.
Celtic vs Rangers Current Best Odds
Celtic 11/10, Draw 5/2, Rangers 13/5 (Odds correct at 11.00am December 27)
Alfredo Morelos of Rangers vies with Hatem Abd Elhamed of Celtic. COLORSPORT/BRUCE WHITE
Celtic vs Rangers Current Best Odds
There hasn’t been a great deal between the two sides in meetings this terms, even though Celtic won both. Rangers deserved more from the League Cup Final and will use that as an incentive to get a positive results at Celtic Park.
Realistically, a draw would keep both teams, if not their fans, happy and that outcome can be backed at a general 5/2. Given the lack of mutual love and understanding between the clubs, it is no surprise that red cards are commonplace in this fixture so have a look at that market. Both defences are fairly solid so Under 3.5 Total Goals with Unibet at 7/20 should be a safe investment.
