THE TALKING POINTS AHEAD OF OLD FIRM
CELTIC host Rangers in the final Old Firm derby of the year at Parkhead today. The Hoops go into the game top of the Ladbrokes Premiership and 11 points clear of the third-placed Govan side. Here, we looks at the talking points ahead of the 2017 finale.
CELTIC BACK TO FORM AFTER BLIP
Celtic’s unbeaten domestic run of 69 games ended this month when they were beaten 4-0 by Hearts at Tynecastle. Since then Brendan Rodgers’ side have taken nine points from nine without losing a goal. The Hoops look to be back to their best which signals bad news for the Light Blues.
WHAT ARE CHANCES OF A RANGERS WIN?
Rangers’ last victory in 90 minutes against Celtic was in March, 2012, when a 3-2 win prevented the Hoops clinching the title at Ibrox. The Govan side’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final victory over their city rivals in April 2016 at Hampden Park came through a penalty shoot-out. In the seven Old Firm games since, Celtic have won six. In March, when Graeme Murty was caretaker boss for the first time, the Gers scrambled a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park. Once again Celtic are heavy favourites to win and Rangers would gladly take a point.
WHO WILL LEAD THE LINE FOR CELTIC?
Brendan Rodgers has been resting main strikers Leigh Griffiths, Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard in recent weeks, due to the Hoops’ intensive fixture list. Griffiths started and scored in the 2-0 win over Dundee last time out and appeared to tell Celtic fans after his goal that he was the man. Whether Rodgers believes that to be the case for the visit of the Light Blues, remains to be seen. But it is a selection problem that Murty can only dream of having.
REFEREE SPOTLIGHT
Bobby Madden will take charge at Celtic Park this afternoon. The official’s Old Firm debut was in the 1-1 draw in March and it ended in some controversy. Madden came in for criticism after ignoring a late Celtic penalty claim when striker Griffiths was tackled by Rangers scorer Clint Hill inside the Gers penalty area. As ever, there is no hiding place in an Old Firm game and the referee will come under intense scrutiny again.