Team news, stats and predictions for the seventh of the Scottish Premiership, when Rangers host Dundee United and Celtic take on Ross County.
Aberdeen will be Craig Bryson after the midfielder canceled his contract by mutual consent.
Derek McInnes does not yet have Michael Devlin (corva tendon), Sam Cosgrove and Ryan Edmundson, but Cosgrove has been informed that he wants surgery on a preseason knee injury and that he could return within a month while on loan at Leeds. Edmundson hopes to recover from an ankle challenge in the next fortnight.
Kilmarnock’s boss, Alex Dyer, expects Stuart Findlay to be compatible for fit in Pittodrie. Scotland’s defense left early after injuring his groin in Killie’s 4-0 war with Dundee United, but Dyer hopes to be in a position to face the Dons.
Alan Power (ham of the corva) and Jake Eastwood (thigh) remain marginalized, but Ross Millen is available after completing a two-game suspension after his red card at St Johnstone.
Key statistics: Aberdeen have lost one of their last 25 league games to Kilmarnock (19 wins, 5 draws), a 0–2 loss at Pittodrie in September 2018.
How to watch: Follow the action with our blog committed to Scottish Premiership. Highlights of loose matches will be on Sky Sports’ website, app and YouTube channel later in the night.
Andy Walker Prediction: 1-0
Livingston’s recent signing, Anthony Stokes, could make his deyet on Saturday. He still lacks form after six months without an attack, but is in contention to confront Accies.
Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie has returned safely from his first call to Scotland, but Steve Lawson and Keaghan Jacobs are in education after suffering foot injuries and none of them will be thought to oppose Brian Rice’s team.
Hamilton will not feature Lee Hodson, as the defender will have to isolate himself for 14 days after his fourthmate Jak Alnwick of St Mirren tested positive for Covid-19. Scott McMann is suspended and Brian Easton, Lewis Smith and Ronan Hughes are still injured.
Key statistics: Livingston has lost one of his last five league games to Hamilton (defeated 1-2 in September 2019), winning his recent 4-2 top in January last season.
How to go on: Follow the action with our blog about the Scottish Premiership. Highlights from single matches will be on the Sky Sports website, app and YouTube channel later in the evening.
Andy Walker’s prediction: 1-1
Motherwell midfielder Liam Donnelly is expected to miss the rest of the year after knee surgery, while goalkeeper Scott Fox will undergo a knee operation next week.
Nathan McGinley is back in shape after recovering from groin discomfort and Jake Carroll (Achilles) and Charles Dunne (groin) are making progress but will not be available for the visit to St Johnstone.
St Johnstone’s boss, Callum Davidson, has no additional injuries before his team’s fir park vacation and has a new festival for the stalls after seeing Zander Clarke, Murray Davidson and Chris Kane improve their fitness in a closed-door friendly with Dundee United. will now be part of Davidson’s team for Stephen Robinson’s men.
Key Statistics: Motherwell has won his last two home league games with St Johnstone with an overall score of 7-0.
How to watch: Follow the action with our blog committed to Scottish Premiership. Highlights of loose matches will be on Sky Sports’ website, app and YouTube channel later in the night.
Andy Walker Prediction: 1-0
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard suffered another dundee United striker injury with news that Joe Aribo could be lost for up to six weeks due to ankle détente.
Allan McGregor is also absent after hitting a knee in training, while Jordan Jones has reported from Northern Ireland with a quad challenge that will keep him out.
But Borna Barisic shook his dead leg that suffered his absence from Croatia and returned to the team with Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and Cedric Itten (twin). Nikola Katic, long absent, advances after a positive setup with his surgeon, still months to return to action.
Lawrence Shankland returns to Dundee United for Ibrox after recovering from an ankle injury. The Scottish striker does not play since the first day of the season in a 1–1 draw with St Johnstone.
Flo Hoti, who signed on Friday, can enroll in Micky Mellon’s team, but defenseman Mark Connolly will miss an ankle injury.
Key Statistics: This will be the first high level between Rangers and Dundee United since Ally McCoist’s Gers beat Peter Houston’s Tangerines in May 2012.
How to watch: Follow the action with our blog committed to Scottish Premiership. Highlights of loose matches will be on Sky Sports’ website, app and YouTube channel later in the night.
Andy Walker Prediction: 3-0
Ross County will not feature defender Carl Tremarco during Celtic’s stopover on Saturday. The former Inverness side kicked off Livingston before the foreign break and will miss Dingwall’s clash with Neil Lennon’s champions.
Tom Grivosti is progressing after a long foot injury, but remains offside, while Lee Erwin has joined St Mirren.
Shane Duffy joins Celtic’s squad after signing a transfer to Brighton. The defense of the Republic of Ireland will be joined through Odsonne Edouard, who returns from a thigh injury.
Leigh Grif have compatibility and Tom Rogic can be compatible for next Wednesday’s game against St Mirren as they return from their respective calf and ankle challenges. Nir Bitton will have an evaluated knee challenge, while Mikey Johnston remains absent after calf surgery.
Key Statistics: Ross County is a 20-game league win over Celtic (D5 L15) since a 3–2 win in March 2013 with Derek Adams.
How to watch: Follow the action with our blog committed to Scottish Premiership. Highlights of loose matches will be on Sky Sports’ website, app and YouTube channel later in the night.
Andy Walker Prediction: 0-3
St Mirren’s fit opposite Hibernian on Saturday will take position despite Covid-19 disorders in the 3 major Buddies goalkeepers.
The Paisley club showed earlier in the week that number one, Jak Alnwick, had tested positive for coronavirus before confirming Thursday night that an uns selected player also had the virus.
A member of the Joint Response Group showed that a “guardian” of the time, Dean Lyness or Peter Urminsky, had also tested positive.
While the third goalkeeper had tested negative, he will also have to miss the game as a precautionary measure, letting Saints manager Jim Goodwin check to bring in an emergency assigned goalkeeper, which he controlled doing Saturday morning fit. Bobby Zlamal of Hearts.
Scott Allan will miss Hibernian in one hit, but Jack Ross has been driven by the return of Kevin Nisbet and Alex Gogic.
Sean Mackie suffered a small setback while recovering from a foot injury, but he hasn’t returned.
Key statistics: St. Mirren has not won in six Scottish Premiership matches with Hibernian (two draws and four losses) since Danny Lennon’s 2-0 win in April 2014.
How to watch: Follow the action with our blog committed to Scottish Premiership. Highlights of loose matches will be on Sky Sports’ website, app and YouTube channel later in the night.
Andy Walker Prediction: 1-2