Rangers v Celtic preview: Team news, head-to-head, line-ups, where to watch
Rangers host Celtic on Thursday with Philippe Clement’s future in the dugout hanging in the balance.
The Belgian has been hamstrung by issues in the boardroom but one win out of the last four matches has upped the pressure surrounding his future.
A disappointing draw with Motherwell which has left the Light Blues title hopes in tatters has done little to swell the scrutiny ahead of the clash at Ibrox (2 January).
Preview
Clement is yet to taste victory in six attempts against Brendan Rodgers’ side in league and cup fixtures.
He came closest in the Premier Sports Cup final but lost in a penalty shoot-out after a controversial penalty call did not go the Gers’ way.
The clash with Celtic on Thursday had been viewed as a chance for his side to reduce the gap at the top of the league to six points and mount a title charge.
However, the Light Blues have been reduced to damage limitation after a loss to St.Mirren and a draw with Motherwell allowed the league leaders to extend the gap at the top to 14 points with a 4-0 win over St. Johnstone.
It is now a case of limiting the margin to as little as possible to save face for Clement now, with the Bhoys surely out of sight, that starts with Thursday’s clash.
Rodgers side have dropped points in just two league matches this season and are yet to lose in their opening 18 games.
Form Guide (Scottish Premiership)
Rangers: DLWWWW
Celtic: WWDWWW
Head-To-Head (Scottish Premiership)
Celtic 3-0 Rangers (September 2024)
Celtic 2-1 Rangers (May 2024)
Rangers 3-3 (April 2024)
Celtic 2-1 Rangers (December 2023)
Rangers 0-1 Celtic (September 2023)
Rangers 3-0 Celtic (May 2023)
Team News
Clement will hope to have Leon Balogun back for the contest after he was injured in the loss to St.Mirren.
Tom Lawrence, John Souttar and Neraysho Kasanwirjo are set to be ruled out for the contest but Rabbi Matondo is expected to make the bench after a 25-minute cameo against Motherwell.
Hamza Igamane and Vaclav Cerny are predicted to return to the starting line-up after being rested against at Fir Park in a decision that led to criticism for Clement.
The visitors are set to be without James Forrest and Odin Thiago Holm but otherwise have a full bill of health.
Predicted lineups
Rangers: Butland,Tavernier, Sterling, Balogun, Yilmaz, Diomande, Raskin, Cerny, Bajrami, Hagi, Igamane
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor, Paulo Bernardo, McGregor, Hatate, Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda
Where to watch?
The derby will be screened on Sky Sports’ Main Event and Football channels from 2pm GMT on Thursday.
Prediction: Rangers 1-3 Celtic
Celtic will likely have too much for the Gers once again on this occasion.
The Light Blues have won just one of their last 17 against their arch-rivals and have failed to win just one of their last six matches in the league.
The Gers conceded three in the last clash with Celtic and are likely to do so again.
In other Rangers news, the club have been ordered to pay £600,00 by the SFA according to a journalist.
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