Celtic v Rangers predictions: Old Firm rivals set to go toe-to-toe

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Wednesday's Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football 7.45pm, Wednesday

Best bet

Over 2.5 goals
1pt Evs bet365

Team news

Celtic
Nir Bitton is suspended while Yosuke Ideguchi, Kyogo Furuhashi and David Turnbull are out injured. Daizen Maeda returned from international duty early and captain Callum McGregor trained with the squad on Tuesday. Tom Rogic may feature.

Rangers
Aaron Ramsey won't be ready to feature after his deadline day move from Juventus. However, Leon Balogun is fit to return in defence. Steven Davis, Ianis Hagi and Filip Helander remain sidelined. Alfredo Morelos is on international duty with Colombia.

Match preview

The Scottish Premiership pendulum appears to have swung in favour of Celtic after Rangers were held to a 3-3 at Ross County and the Bhoys snatched a late winner against Dundee United on Saturday.

The Bhoys are now just two points behind Rangers at the top of the table and are narrow favourites to regain the title at the end of the season. The result of Wednesday's Old Firm derby could see another twist in the title race and a Parkhead thriller looks on the cards.

Rangers haven't been at their best of late, but it was almost taken for granted that it would be business as usual after Giovanni van Bronckhorst won his first eight league games in the Ibrox dugout.

The Dutchman made a good start to his Rangers reign, but he would have still needed time to get his ideas across and get players in and out of the club.

New signing Aaron Ramsey won't feature at Parkhead, but the arrival of the former Arsenal midfielder should give Rangers a major uplift and a renewed desire.

Defensive errors cost the Gers at Ross, but Van Bronckhorst's side still had 72 per cent possession and 17 shots at Dingwall and it's worth remembering that they are yet to lose under the Dutchman.

Celtic prefer to go out on the front foot and only Bayer Leverkusen and Livingston have stopped Ange Postecoglou's side from scoring in their 20 home matches in all competitions this term.

The Bhoys have made some good attacking additions in the transfer window, but their defensive solidity could be diminished with captain and midfield anchorman Callum McGregor lacking match fitness and stand-in Nir Bitton suspended.

Of course, this is the toughest opposition that both sides face domestically but that doesn't mean it will be a tight and cagey affair.

Rangers have scored 18 goals in their last seven away league matches, and given the competitiveness of the title race, it would be no surprise to see this game open up.

Celtic have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last four home fixtures against their Old Firm rivals and there have been ten goals in the last four meetings between the sides.

The Rangers defence is bound to have been shaken by conceding three goals at Ross, and Van Bronckhorst may even look to make a change in goal after Allan McGregor's unconvincing performance at the weekend.

The destination of the Premiership title may still be in the balance after this Parkhead clash but the likelihood of a high-scoring tussle seems greater than the prices suggest.

Key stat

Celtic have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last four home games against Rangers.

Inside info

Celtic

Penalty taker Josip Juranovic
Free-kick wizardTom Rogic
Set-piece aerial threat Cameron Carter-Vickers
Card magnet Cameron Carter-Vickers

Rangers

Penalty taker James Tavernier
Free-kick wizardJames Tavernier
Set-piece aerial threatConnor Goldson
Card magnetConnor Goldson

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