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| Venue of events: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Date: Saturday january 2 Time: 12:30 GMT |
| Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. |
The new year kicks off with a colossal Old Firm derby on Saturday as the top two in Scottish football square off at Ibrox.
Despite their contrasting seasons thus far, both Rangers and Celtic are fit and full of motivation for the most combustible game on the calendar.
These two could start an argument in an empty room, so their second confrontation behind closed doors is unlikely to be a shy affair.
Here, BBC Scotland weighs the key questions for a match full of intriguing subplots.
Showdown that defines the season?
The champions are not crowned in January, but the importance of this latest derby cannot be understated. While not a decider of the title, the result will shape the next few months in a historic campaign.
The Rangers, having watched their biggest rivals dominate them with nine straight titles, are now on the rise and will be 19 points clear if they beat Celtic for the third time in a row.
Even with three games in hand, and two more Old Firm contests to play, it would be a huge gap. And the evidence suggests that it would be insurmountable. The Rangers are unbeaten in the league, have won 13 straight games and have lost just four points of 63 in their best start in nearly a century.
Celtic have been in and out of the crisis and have shown new vulnerabilities, but they are going to Ibrox after four consecutive wins in the league. Simply put, it looks like a match they can’t afford to lose in their faltering pursuit of an unprecedented 10th consecutive title.
Can Gerrard win a tactical battle again?
If ever Celtic boss Neil Lennon needed to prove he can tactically outperform his Rangers counterpart Steven Gerrard, it’s this weekend.
Celtic, weakened by the absence of six players due to Covid-19 and injury, was outmatched in their own field in the previous meeting and failed to register a shot on goal in a tame 2-0 loss.
The Rangers’ dominance was absolute, but not specific. They have been the best team in four of the last five derbies, the exception being Celtic’s 2-0 win at Ibrox in September 2019, as Gerrard’s tactical setup has undermined Celtic’s strengths.
Gaining absolute dominance of the midfield has allowed Ibrox’s team to dictate and Celtic’s 3-5-2 formation was heavily exposed in October when the Rangers ran like crazy up the flanks in a well-drilled 4-2-3-1.
However, with Celtic deploying a diamond in midfield as part of a 4-4-2 in recent games, helping forwards Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths prosper, Lennon will hope he found a strategy to turn it around. to Gerrard.
Who will make the big pick calls right?
Both managers face fundamental decisions. Rangers forward Ryan Kent, whose spectacular form at the start of the season has slipped, was eliminated for Wednesday’s win over St Mirren. But with Kent’s fondness thriving at the Old Firm occasion, can Gerrard afford to keep the 24-year-old on the bench on Saturday?
Alfredo Morelos returned to the starting lineup at Paisley and scored his first goal in nine games. The Colombian forward has yet to score against Celtic in 13 appearances, and has been below his best this season, but his physique and quality have disrupted defenses from Porto to the Premiership.
Meanwhile, Lennon must decide whether to return captain Scott Brown to midfield. Age seems to have caught up with the 35-year-old this season and his replacement, Ismaila Soro, has stood out.
The 22-year-old had not started with Celtic until this month. He has now been selected for five of the last six, scoring his first goal with a great shot in Wednesday’s win over Dundee United.
Even though Brown’s leadership and experience have been a staple of the Old Firm matchups, it would be a great decision if Lennon plays him at Soro’s expense.
On the other hand, the probable absence of Christopher Jullien leaves Lennon with a hole to fill as center-back. Will Shane Duffy, who has suffered from a bug-ridden loan spell, get the nod before Nir Bitton?
Will the Rangers defense stop Celtic’s resurgence?
Just over a month ago, a few hundred fans stood outside Celtic Park and called for Lennon to be fired. The 2-0 League Cup loss to Ross County had drained fans’ patience amid a streak of just two wins in 12 and the coach looked doomed.
Yet from the depths of despair, the Northern Irishman has recovered. Celtic head to Ibrox after six straight wins in all competitions and no goals conceded in four Premiership games.
Their performances have yet to fully convince: the final Scottish Cup win over Hearts completed the historic four-way treble, but only came after Celtic blew away a two-goal lead at halftime.
Lifting that trophy helped keep Lennon on the job, and now comes the litmus test. With the manager’s position to be reviewed in the new year, the result against the Rangers could determine his future.
To improve their prospects, Celtic will have to drill through a Rangers defense that is racking up some surprising stats. Gerrard’s men have conceded just five league goals, compared to 13 at the same stage last season, in 21 games and have kept 17 clean sheets.
At Ibrox, they have been virtually impenetrable with just one goal conceded in 10 straight wins. Another shutout would guarantee a point and move the Rangers closer to their first major trophy in a decade.
