Reigning Scottish champions Celtic host Rangers in the top flight on Saturday lunchtime.
The Bhoys have been in imperious form this season but boast a stellar record on home soil across the last 19 months. Celtic haven’t been beaten at Parkhead by Scottish opposition since St Mirren earned a famous victory on the road in January 2021.
Neil Lennon described that defeat as the “lowest point” of his tenure as Celtic trailed Rangers by 23 points at the time. Fast forward a year and a half, here’s the XI Ange Postecoglou may deploy to eke out a five-point advantage over the Gers at this early stage of the campaign.
GK: Joe Hart – During a match in which Celtic scored nine goals, Postecoglou was quick to praise his own goalkeeper after Hart’s blow to the head supposedly acted as the catalyst for the romp against Dundee United.
RB: Josip Juranovic – As late as 19, Juranovic was still an unknown attacking midfielder in Croatia’s third-tier. Thanks to a standout display in Nike’s ‘The Chance’ competition for amateurs, he emerged from obscurity, ultimately landing on the radar of the Scottish giants.
CB: Cameron Carter-Vickers – The 24-year-old plumped for the right side of the Glasgow divide after starting at the youth team Catholic United.
CB: Carl Starfelt – With two goals in each of his Premiership appearances this term, Starfelt has proven to be an early beneficiary of Celtic’s newfound set piece threat (the Hoops have already scored seven goals from dead balls this term).
LB: Greg Taylor – The 24-year-old actually spent six years in the Rangers youth system before he was released. This weekend, Taylor has the perfect opportunity to fulfil the burning desire to “prove them wrong” which has been his motivation ever since getting cut.
CM: Matt O’Riley – In the limited minutes he was afforded, O’Riley recorded the highest average of open play chances created (2.5 per 90) in the Scottish top flight last season (per Opta).
CM: Callum McGregor – Celtic’s skipper has been part of the club’s set-up since 2001, facing Rangers at senior level no fewer than 28 times.
CM: Reo Hatate – Half of Hatate’s goal tally for Celtic came inside the first half of his maiden Old Firm appearance last February.
RW: Daizen Maeda – The team’s quickest player is thoroughly familiar with Postecoglou’s demands after spending two years with the Australian coach at Yokohama F. Marinos.
ST: Kyogo Furuhashi – With six goals to his name already, the striker that is targeting 20 this term is currently outscoring half the clubs in the Scottish top flight.
LW: Jota – Celtic’s spell-binding winger leads the league for shots (six) and chances created (eight) after a carry (per Opta).
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