Rangers v Celtic: Predicted XI with defensive calls for Brendan | OneFootball

Celtic face Rangers this afternoon at Ibrox as Brendan Rodgers’ side look to go 17 points clear at the top of the table. Celtic go into the game with two home 4-0 wins over Motherwell and St Johnstone, while Rangers have just one point in their last two, having been beaten by St Mirren and drawing against Motherwell.

Brendan has a full squad to pick from – unlike Clement. The Irishman has a number of calls this afternoon – whether to continue with Liam Scales over Auston Trusty, Arne Engels or Paulo Bernardo and Greg Taylor or Alex Valle.

In goals, Kasper Schmeichel will start. The Danish goalkeeper denied Yilmaz during the shootout at Hampden to help Celtic to the first piece of silverware of the season.

In defence, expect Brendan to go with the experience of Greg Taylor at left back with Alistair Johnston at right back. Cameron Carter-Vickers will start in the central pairing with Liam Scales starting ahead of Trusty.

Greg Taylor in action during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Despite Taylor making a mistake in the Premier Sports Cup Final which resulted in Rangers taking the lead, the Scotland Internationalist netted Celtic’s equaliser and showed great strength and experience not to allow the mistake to impact his game. You would expect that he starts over Alex Valle. Trusty, meanwhile, started the Cup Final but was substituted for Scales at half time, since then the Irishman has started all three games with Trusty having been unwell.

In midfield, Arne Engels has been excellent recently and you would expect that he starts alongside skipper Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate. The trio offers balance to the middle of the park and, as expected, Rangers are to go man for man, the left footed Hatate and right footed Engels will help in playing out. It is somewhat harsh on Bernardo but he will look to make his impact felt from the bench.

Arne Engels in action during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

In attack, Kyogo will start through the middle with Daizen Maeda on the left and Nicolas Kühn on the right.

Celtic will have Adam Idah and Paulo Bernardo to call upon from the bench but there are not many wide options should they be required. This is an area that Celtic will look to address this month to provide depth and competition.