Champions Celtic can clinch crown with victory over rivals Rangers

Ladbrokes Premiership
Sky Sports Football, midday Sunday

Celtic can clinch the Ladbrokes Premiership in style with a sweet success over Old Firm rivals Rangers.

To even suggest the Glasgow giants are rivals now irritates Hoops fans, such is the gap between them as Celtic close in on seven league titles in a row.

And the yawning chasm between the clubs on the field at least was never better illustrated as in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final mismatch earlier this month at Hampden Park.

Celtic triumphed 4-0 but it was the manner of Rangers' capitu­lation that was so alarming. It was men against boys stuff.

There's little reason for optimism for the Govan club on this occasion either, despite the match almost being over­shadowed by the prospect of the arrival of Steven Gerrard as incoming manager.

Rangers can cling to the hope that they were so heavily criticised after their brutal hammering their pride won't allow a repeat.

Either that or the fact they have played well on their last two visits to Parkhead, drawn both and could arguably have won them. They certainly have the armoury to score.

Perhaps they could just hope their nemesis Moussa Dembele doesn't recover from a knock last week, although Leigh Griffiths is hardly a bad replacement.

But the cold evidence suggests Rangers will again be overrun in the midfield battle and will get turned over at the back, with Russell Martin exposed.

Celtic have won the title only once at Parkhead against Rangers and will relish adding to that stat.

Recommendation
Celtic to win & over 2.5 goals
1pt 5-4 general

Bet on this match at soccerbase.com

Ladbrokes Premiership standings

Team news
Celtic Moussa Dembele and Mikael Lustig face fitness tests for the Bhoys. Jonny Hayes and Nir Bitton are long-term injury victims.

Rangers The Gers are still without injured duo Ryan Jack and David Bates. Goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and defender Bruno Alves are also out. Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller are still suspended by the club.

Key stat
Rangers are the highest away scorers in the Ladbrokes Premiership and have netted six more goals than Celtic.

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