Celtic's first game as champions of the 2022-23 Scottish Premiership takes place at the home of their bitter rivals Rangers, who play hosts to the latest instalment of the Old Firm derby on Saturday lunchtime.
The Gers will be seeking revenge against the Hoops after suffering a slender 1-0 defeat in the Scottish Cup semi-finals at the end of last month.
Match preview
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Following a run of three defeats in four games across all competitions, Rangers returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 home victory over Aberdeen last weekend.
The Gers initially struggled to make the breakthrough despite dominating proceedings, but they eventually opened the scoring just after the hour mark courtesy of a brilliantly-struck volley from Todd Cantwell.
However, that victory ultimately proved inconsequential in the race for top spot as Celtic clinched the Premiership title with a 2-0 win away at Hearts. A 13-point gap separates Rangers in second and Celtic at the summit with just four games remaining, and the Gers are merely playing for pride in their remaining fixtures.
Rangers will be looking to accumulate at least seven points from their final four fixtures, though, which would see them match their points tally from last season, while manager Michael Beale is desperate to end his winless Old Firm run against Celtic.
Indeed, Beale has failed to win any of his first four Old Firm matches as Rangers boss, losing each of his last three after drawing his first 2-2 at Ibrox in January; only William Wilton (eight) and Graeme Murty (five) have ever failed to win each of their first five competitive Old Firm derbies as Rangers manager.
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Celtic remain the dominant force in Scotland and they are still on course to win the domestic treble this season after securing their 53rd Premiership title with a 2-0 victory at Tynecastle last weekend.
Following the controversial first-half dismissal of Hearts defender Alex Cochrane on the stroke of half time, Kyogo Furuhashi scored his 50th Celtic goal to open the scoring midway through the second half, before substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu added a second to help the Hoops notch up their 11th top-flight title in 12 seasons.
Ange Postecoglou has successfully led Celtic to back-to-back titles in his first two seasons at the club, and he will be keen to end the season on a high with another Old Firm derby triumph and success in the Scottish Cup final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on June 3.
Since losing 5-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage in early November, Celtic have put together an impressive 28-game unbeaten run across all competitions, winning 26 of those matches and scoring at least twice on 25 occasions.
The Hoops have already come out on top in four Old Firm derbies this season, beating Rangers twice in the Premiership and once each in the domestic cups, and Postecoglou's side can become just the third in the club's history – after Martin O'Neill's in 2003-04 and Brendan Rodgers's in 2016-17 – to beat the Gers five times in a single season in all competitions.
Team News
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Rangers boss Beale has confirmed that Ben Davies and Ryan Kent are ruled out through injury, and the duo join Kemar Roofe, Tom Lawrence, Steven Davis, Filip Helander and Nnamdi Ofoborh in the treatment room, while Bayern Munich loanee Malik Tillman has returned to his parent club to receive treatment on a season-ending ankle injury.
Antonio Colak is doubtful, but Ryan Jack is available for selection after missing the last four games with an ankle issue, while Beale has revealed that goalkeeper Robby McCrorie will start between the sticks at the expense of Allan McGregor.
Captain James Tavernier scored a brace, including his 100th goal for the Gers, in the 3-2 Premiership loss at Celtic last month and he is set to continue in his advanced right-back role, while Alfredo Morelos will be pushing to start in attack ahead of Fashion Sakala after beginning on the substitutes' bench last time out.
As for Celtic, Cameron Carter-Vickers is set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, and the defender joins Alistair Johnston, Stephen Welsh and James McCarthy on the sidelines.
Aaron Mooy is "touch and go" for Saturday, but James Forrest is available after taking part in team training, while Furuhashi is expected to start in attack despite coming off with a knock shortly after scoring against Hearts.
The Japan international is one of three Celtic players to be nominated for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award along with captain Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate, who are both set to retain their places in centre-midfield alongside Matt O'Riley, who has been nominated for the Young Player of the Year award along with Liel Abada.
Rangers possible starting lineup:
McCrorie; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Yilmaz; Lundstram, Raskin; Cantwell, Hagi, Wright; Morelos
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Ralston, Starfelt, Kobayashi, Taylor; O'Riley, McGregor, Hatate; Jota, Furuhashi, Maeda
We say: Rangers 1-2 Celtic
The Premiership title race may be over, but bragging rights remain on the line with both Glaswegian giants keen to come out on top in the final Old Firm derby of the season.
Rangers are yet to lose a league game on home soil this season, winning 15 and drawing two of their 17 matches at Ibrox, but we believe that champions Celtic will end their impressive unbeaten run with a narrow victory on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
