Pressure mounts on Old Firm ahead of title race-deciding encounter

By Neel Shelat

Draws continue to cost Rangers dearly

Rangers have the fewest defeats in the Scottish Premiership this season with just two – both against Hearts – but they currently find themselves four points off the top of the table. The main reason for this is that only one other team in the division has drawn more games than the 55-time Scottish champions, who have been forced to share the spoils on 11 occasions so far.

Danny Röhl’s side have dropped points in three of their last five league matches, all away against Hibernian, Livingston and Motherwell. As a result, another draw will likely feel like two points lost rather than one gained, even in this match.

Martin O’Neill’s side start to feel the pressure

Celtic’s season so far has been topsy-turvy to say the least. Martin O’Neill’s tenure has been a source of solidity and consistency, but the slow start under Brendan Rodgers as well as Wilfried Nancy’s miserable month in charge of midfield have put the reigning champions in a difficult situation.

The Bhoys are currently six points behind the league leaders, although they have a game in hand. A run of six wins and one draw since O’Neil’s return has brought them back into the top tier, but recent results have not been kind to them. They lost to Hibernian in their last Premiership match between a Europa League exit to Stuttgart. On the bright side, it allows them to fully concentrate on domestic matters.

Team News

The Rangers only have to deal with a few major absences. Defenders Dujon Sterling and Derek Cornelius are missing, as are young midfielders Connor Barron and Bailey Rice.

Celtic, on the other hand, will be without suspended Auston Trusty as well as injured defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston, midfielder Arne Engels and striker Jota. Youngsters Adam Montgomery and Callum Osman will also be unavailable.

Key players

In a season where Rangers’ forwards have struggled to find form, James Tavernier has been their main attacking contributor. Five of his seven league goals have come from the penalty spot, but he has also scored four more. Nicolas Raskin is the team’s top creator with five assists and will have an important role to play in midfield, while lively young winger Djeidi Gassama could be a game-changer with his dribbling.

Benjamin Nygren is the league’s top scorer with 14 goals, with none of his Celtic teammates managing better than half that total. Daezen Maeda scored three goals in Old Firm matches last season, but is yet to get on the scoresheet against Rangers this season, so now would be a good time for that. Kieran Tierney will have an important role to play in both directions on the left flank.

Prediction

Neither team is in top form, with both defenses looking unreliable in recent weeks, so a draw seems the most likely outcome. The real winner, in such a case, would be league leaders Hearts.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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