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Scottish Premiership: Rangers v CelticVenue of events: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Date: Saturday january 2 Time: 12:30 GMTCoverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.
Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers welcome Celtic to Ibrox on Saturday knowing that a win would take them 19 points clear at the top.
Neil Lennon’s team still has three games in hand, but their hopes of winning an unprecedented 10th consecutive league title would be in grave jeopardy.
For Steven Gerrard, the victory would take him one step closer to a first coaching trophy and the Rangers’ first great honor in a decade. Defeat would give renewed hope to his rivals in the city.
The game will be played on the 50th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster, when 66 fans were killed at the end of an Old Firm game. That will provide a gloomy backdrop for a very important occasion.
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What they say
Rangers coach Steven Gerrard: “Celtic have obviously won their last games, against Hamilton, Ross County and Dundee United, but they are playing the Rangers and it is a different challenge for them.
“In two and a half years, things have changed. We are in a much better place now and it feels different than the first one we played.
“People take a lot of winter holidays and Dubai, but to me it’s a lot of nonsense. The reality is that we have not been the best version of ourselves since the beginning of the new year in both seasons.”
Celtic coach Neil Lennon: “We are not even contemplating losing. We go there in a positive frame of mind and we have to play a lot better than what we did here in October.
“We have [Ryan] Christie, [Odsonne] Eduardo, [Leigh] Griffiths, [David] Turnbull and [Ismaila] Soro is available, so I hope it gives us a real spark as we enter this game.
“We are playing well, everyone is fit, available and there is good competition for places.”
Team news
Midfielders Scott Arfield (ankle) and Ryan Jack (knee) are absent for the Rangers, meaning Steven Davis, Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo will likely start, with Bongani Zungu on the bench. Gerrard’s only other absentee is Nikola Katic, a victim of a long-term knee injury.
Christopher Jullien is a big doubt for Celtic after hitting a pole during Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Dundee United. Winger James Forrest remains out after ankle surgery.
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Select formation Confirm team ‘This will be a fairer fight’ – analysis
Scotland’s BBC Senior Sports Writer Tom English
The last time these teams met, the Rangers stormed Celtic Park. The home team’s bland performance, not a single shot on goal in the 90 minutes, pushed their fans into an advanced state of apoplexy.
However, as a guide for Saturday, it is of limited use. Celtic were without Edouard and Christie that day. A few others were also missing that could have made a difference from the bench. This will be a more fair fight. The stakes are high. An exciting contest is surely waiting for you.
Match statistics
- The visiting team has won each of the last three Premiership derbies; The home team had won five in a row before that. The Rangers have won the last two league games, winning three in a row for the last time between March 2007 and March 2008 (four games with Walter Smith). Celtic have won five of their last seven games. in Ibrox (L2); before that, they had won only four out of 16 (D2 L10). The Rangers have won their last 13 league games, scoring 39 goals and conceding just three. The best streak in the top flight since another 13-game streak between December 2007 and March 2008, Celtic are undefeated in 19 league games away from home (W15 D4) since a 2-0 loss at Livingston in October. 2019 Premiership teams Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos has not scored against. Dundee United is the other one: Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard has scored (six) and been directly involved in (eight – six goals, two assists) more goals than any other player in Premiership Old Firm matches. His 11 starts as a Premiership starter for Rangers (10 goals, two assists). Excluding own goals, Celtic have had more different scorers than any other team in the Premiership this season, and Ismaila Soro became his 16th against Dundee United last time out.
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Source: bbc.com
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