Key events
Ewan Murray
The words of Brendan Rodgers are not currently replicated by demeanour.
The Celtic manager’s defence of his club’s position, before the second Old Firm clash of the season, is striking when in black and white. Rodgers was responding to whether or not his team are in need of a statement result this lunchtime.
“I think if you read or listen to everything in the media you would feel we were in constant crisis mode here,” Rodgers said. “That’s what I feel.”
Something about Rodgers’ delivery and body language lacked conviction. This all came across as rather humdrum or lacking in spark.
Team news
Pretty much as expected for Celtic today. All eyes on the much-coveted Kyogo Furuhashi up front.
Connor Goldson and John Lundstram are both passed fit and back in the starting lineup for Rangers.
It’s a bit snowy in Glasgow today. As we understand it, there’s very little chance of the game being called off at this late stage. Grab the orange ball and proceed!
Preamble
Good morning and welcome to derby day in Glasgow! It’s the final Old Firm derby of 2023, a year in Scottish football that Celtic have dominated, but one that ends with the power dynamic shifting ever-so slightly in the favour of Rangers, which makes this clash so intriguing.
Philippe Clement is getting his first ever taste of the Old Firm and he could hardly have his team in better form, on a seven-game winning streak in all competitions and unbeaten in his 16 matches in charge. He’s even got a trophy in the bag in the shape of the Scottish League Cup AKA the Viaplay Cup.
Celtic are guaranteed to be top of the pile come Hogmanay, but they’re feeling their old rivals breathing down their necks after a number of dropped points of late, including defeats to Kilmarnock and Hearts before Christmas. Brendan Rodgers would love a win in front of a partisan Celtic Park crowd to alleviate some building pressure. A defeat would mean just a two-point gap to Rangers, who will still have two games in hand.
Stick with us for a fascinating afternoon of feisty, old-fashioned Old Firm fitba.
