Rangers FC are sitting at the top of the Premiership table and next up, they take on Celtic FC in an all-important Old Firm Derby.
During the weekend, Rangers FC dropped some unnecessary points vs Ross County which means Celtic are just two points behind their arch-rivals right now. The Gers need to win on Wednesday in order to restore the five-point gap or else they could find themselves sitting on the second spot after the Old Firm Derby is over.
The Gers have lost just once in the 61 Scottish Premiership matches and have won 6 of their last 7 matches against Celtic in all competitions. Rangers definitely go into this game as the favourites but there are bound to be some nerves, especially after their 3-3 draw vs Ross County on matchday 24.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has seen the return of some key players over the past week and he’s also seen the arrival of some very exciting and top-class players during the January transfer window. The new arrivals mean the manager could slightly chop and change his starting line up in midweek.
Gers team news vs Celtic FC:
The defensive line will remain unchanged unless there’s a late injury with Bassey and Goldson pairing up in central defence while Tavernier and Barisic operate as the two full-backs.
Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey has joined Rangers FC on a loan deal from Juventus and this is a massive signing for the Gers. Ramsey might not be in peak form right now but the former Arsenal man has the class to set the SPFL on fire.
🆕 #RangersFC are delighted to announce the loan signing of @Cymru international midfielder @aaronramsey from @juventusfc until the end of the season.
👉 https://t.co/W444lJrdyP pic.twitter.com/8fR8Rqa0OL
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 31, 2022
The 31-year-old should come straight into the side, playing alongside Glen Kamara as the second central midfielder. Joe Aribo is going to be the one who starts in the attacking midfielder’s role but we have a feeling that Ramsey will have the license to venture forward at every given opportunity.
Amad Diallo scored after just five minutes into his Rangers FC debut and he will once again be handed a start down that right flank. Ryan Kent returned from suspension to feature vs Ross County and he will slot into the left flank.
Cedric Itten has come back from loan and he’s already scored one goal in four games for the Gers. He will once again lead the line on Wednesday against Celtic.
UPDATE: The Rangers manager has revealed that Aaron Ramsey is not going to start on Wendesday.
He told the press: “No Aaron will not be in the squad. He’s been out for a couple of weeks, he trained with the squad today, he looks really good, but tomorrow is too soon.”
Rangers FC predicted line up vs Celtic:
Predicted Line up(4-2-3-1): McGregor; Goldson, Bassey, Tavernier, Barisic; Aaron Ramsey, Kamara; Amad Diallo, Kent, Aribo; Itten.
Stats via Whoscored