Home / football / Scottish Premiership News / Rangers v Celtic: line-ups confirmed for old company clash as Clement suffers from Balogun Blow
The race for the Scottish Premiership’s name is now over, but there’s still a lot to play for when Rangers host Celtic this afternoon, and especially for Gers manager Philippe Clement.
The classic New Year’s opening match between the Old Firm giants is a key occasion in the war for supremacy in Scotland, but Celtic’s incredible form and Rangers’ struggles mean the visitors go into the lions’ den with a merit of 14 points in the table.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are unbeaten in the league this season, dropping just four points from 18 games and it is unlikely to think they will collapse after Christmas and let Rangers come back.
And it’s not as though Rangers’ form means they’d be able to capitalise on an opening anyway.
They have won just one of their last five games in all competitions and, although Clement’s departure is inevitable at some point, his departure may be hastened through defeat this afternoon.
Clement made six adjustments to the team that drew 2-2 at Motherwell on Sunday.
James Tavernier and Jack Butland miss out as expected as does Leon Balogun, who sustained a calf injury against St Mirren on Boxing Day.
Liam Kelly, Jefte, Ianis Hagi, Vaclav Cerny, Nedim Bajrami and Hamza Igamane all come into the starting XI with Nico Raskin named captain.
Rangers: Kelly, Ridvan, Propper, Sterling, Jefte, Raskin, Diomande, Cerny, Bajrami, Hagi, Igamane
?️ Full Team News: https://t.co/YTPipQDdpc pic.twitter.com/94mCJKMgeq
– Rangers Football Club (@rangersfc) January 2, 2025
Rodgers has made 3 adjustments to That Beat St Johnstone 4-0 over the weekend.
Greg Taylor replaced Alex Valle at left-back, captain Callum McGregor returned to midfield while Daizen Maeda returned at the expense of Yang Hyun-jun.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Bernardo, Hatate, Kuhn, Maeda, Kyogo
– Celtic Club (@celticfc) January 2, 2025
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