Celtic need to beat arch-rivals Rangers this lunchtime to keep their Scottish Premiership title hopes alive.
Martin O’Neill’s men will face the Old Firm at Parkhead four points behind leaders Hearts following the Jambos’ 1-1 draw at Motherwell last night.
It’s an unusual place for Celtic to be hunters but O’Neill thinks they welcome the challenge.
“It’s not the position the football team has been in in recent years,” said O’Neill. “Usually, they went clear and there was no opposition.
“There has been a lot of opposition this year, not just from Rangers, but obviously it comes from the heart.
“So it’s a big, big change, it’s not something that a few of these players are used to, you have to get used to it, you’ve been chasing, you have to keep chasing.”
Rangers’ defeat to the Heats last weekend effectively ended their challenge but Danny Rohl and his players would like to put a huge dent in Celtic’s title ambitions.
Celtic Club News
Celtic have a long injury list, including Colby Donovan (hamstring), Julian Araujo (thigh), Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder), Callum Osmand (hamstring), Adam Montgomery (calf), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) and Jota (knee).
Daizen Maeda limped off in last week’s win over Hibs but is fit to play.
Celtic: We have a balance; Johnston, Trusty, scales, Tierney; McGregor, Engels, Nygren, McCowan, Yang; Maeda
Rangers Team News
Bailey Rice is the only absentee for the Rangers, as he misses out with a hamstring injury.
Guards: Butland, Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Rommens, Barron; Chukwuani, Diomande; Moore, Antman, Chermiti
Where to watch Celtic v Rangers: TV and streaming online
Celtic v Rangers kicks off at 12:00 this afternoon. It will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. It will also be available to stream on Sky Go.
Celtic v Rangers stats
- Celtic are winless in six league games against Rangers (D3 L3). They went on a long winless run in the Old Firm from September 1995 to November 1997 (10).
- Rangers have won their last two league visits to Celtic, as many as 19 times (W2 D4 L13). They last won three league games in a row against Celtic in November 1992 under Walter Smith.
- Celtic have won their last four league games. The longest winning streak in the Premiership this season is five games, which came during O’Neill’s spell in charge from October to December.
- Rangers have lost their last two league games, as they have in their last 39 games (W21 D16 L2). They have not lost three consecutive Premiership games since October 2000 under Dick Advocaat.
- After leading Rangers to a 3-1 win at Celtic Park in January, Rohl would become only the second Gers manager to win his first two league games against their biggest rivals. He would follow in Smith’s footsteps (the first three from 1991 to 1992).
