Celtic FC are currently sitting at the top of the Premiership table and next up they will face Rangers FC in the famed Old Firm Derby.
The Gers are just two points behind their arch-rivals which means if Celtic FC fail to win on Saturday then they will slip out of the top spot.
The Bhoys beat Dundee United 9-0 in their previous Premiership game and in midweek they beat Ross County 4-1 in a League Cup tie. The manager had the chance to rest several first-team regulars on Wednesday night meaning his big-name players would have gotten proper rest.
Celtic FC are undefeated in 18 of their last 20 home matches against Rangers in all competitions and with the kind of form they are in right now, the home side the slight favourites to win this Old Firm Derby.
The Old Firm Derby is the crown jewel for the Scottish Premiership but next week, Celtic will welcome the mighty Real Madrid in the Champions League so Ange Postecoglou will definitely have one eye on that game.
Celtic’s team news and rotations:
Greg Taylor, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt and Juranovic were all rested in midweek but they will come back into the side and form the back line for the home team.
Keeper Joe Hart was also rested vs Ross County so he too will come into the side.
Aaron Mooy got his first start for Celtic in midweek and Callum McGregor is the only midfielder who played both the Dundee game as well as Ross County game. There’s no way Ange Postecoglou will rest him for the Old Firm Derby so he will hold onto his place, while Hatate and O’Riley come into the side.
Celtic have managed to sign defensive midfielder Oliver Abildgaard on a season-long loan deal from Rubin Kazan but he’s not expected to feature against Rangers, not at least from the start.
Our new number 2️⃣8️⃣ 📸 #AbildgaardAnnounced#VelkommenOliver 🇩🇰🍀 | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/TjVVpdOWzE
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 1, 2022
Liel Abada and Furuhashi both scored hat-tricks against Dundee United and they will come into the side along with Jota who scored one and assisted in that same match.
The likes of James Forrest and Giorgos Giakoumakis scored on Wednesday night so they too will be pushing for places but neither of them will come into the first XI.
Celtic FC predicted line up vs Rangers:
Predicted Starting XI(4-3-3): Hart; Starfelt, Taylor, Carter-Vickers, Juranovic; McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley; Furuhashi, Jota, Abada.
Stats via Fotmob
