Rangers v Celtic predictions: Tight Old Firm clash looks on the cards

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Rangers v Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, midday Sunday

Best bet

Under 2.5 goals
1pt 10-11 general

Team news

Rangers
Allan McGregor, Jon McLaughlin, James Tavernier, Scott Wright, Calvin Bassey and Ryan Kent missed the midweek trip to Alashkert, but Kemar Roofe and John Lundstram return from suspension. Juninho Bacuna, Brandon Barker and Nikola Katic are also available.

Celtic
Greg Taylor and Kyogo Furuhashi are expected to recover, as is one of James McCarthy or James Forrest. Josip Juranovic is in line to make his debut, but Christopher Jullien, Mikey Johnston and Karamoko Dembele are ruled out.

Match preview

The uncertainty surrounding Rangers after a recent Covid-19 outbreak adds an extra complication to the first Old Firm meeting of the Scottish Premiership season.

Gers were without manager Steven Gerrard and captain James Tavernier, as well as Ryan Kent, Scott Wright, Calvin Bassey, Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin, for Thursday’s Europa League trip to Alashkert and it is unknown who, if any, will return for Celtic’s visit.

Gerrard’s assistant Gary McAllister may be set to take charge again but with so much depth still at his disposal - Kemar Roofe and John Lundstram return from suspension - they are not easy to oppose at their Ibrox fortress.

Rangers sauntered to the Scottish Premiership title last season, dazzling past the 100-point mark and finishing 25 ahead of their fiercest rivals.

They won all 19 of their home league fixtures, conceding just four goals, and have continued in similar vein as they thumped Livingston 3-0 in this season’s Ibrox curtain-raiser.

Gerrard’s gang also finished unbeaten in five meetings with Celtic last season, winning on four occasions, and even if they are weakened, they are still going to be well-organised and difficult to deter.

With plenty of unknowns, the match prices look subject to change and an interest in a low-scoring affair is instead advised.

Celtic make the short trip to Ibrox following back-to-back 6-0 home wins over Dundee and St Mirren, but their only away game resulted in a 2-1 defeat at Hearts.

Ange Postecoglou is settling in his post as Hoops boss but Rangers are defensively strong and this is a daunting task.

Only three of the last 12 Old Firm rivalries have featured three goals or more, while Celtic must improve on an away record that has seen them fail to win on any of their last six league road trips.

Key stat

Celtic have failed to score in three of their last five meetings with Rangers.

Inside info

Rangers

Penalty taker James Tavernier
Free-kick wizard James Tavernier
Aerial set piece threat Connor Goldson
Card magnet Alfredo Morelos

Celtic

Penalty taker Odsonne Edouard
Free-kick wizard Ryan Christie
Aerial set piece threat Stephen Welsh
Card magnet Callum McGregor

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