This Sunday afternoon, Celtic will face Phillipe Clement’s Rangers side for the first time this season at a brimming Celtic Park. They have enjoyed this fixture recently, winning four of their last five clashes and scoring nine goals in the process. Here is how we expect Brendan Rodgers to set up.
Celtic Predicted Lineup vs Rangers
How Celtic Have Lined Up Recently
There has been little rotation so far this season from the Champions. They have consciously opted for a similar eleven, which has transpired into a consistent run of victories. However, another reason for this is the lack of transfer activity. Celtic’s outfield squad remained unchanged from last season, up until the last week. The only permanent outfield signings were Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah, who spent loan spells in Glasgow last season. Although, four signings at the end of the window changes the picture and provides more competition for places.
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Kasper Schmeichel has started every game in goal, meanwhile, Alastair Johnson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Greg Taylor have completed a back four. New signings Alex Valle (on loan from Barcelona) and Auston Trusty will be looking to break into that defence. Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate have started every game meanwhile Paulo Bernardo took Matt O’Riley’s place last week as the Dane secured a move down south to Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton. Overtime, Bernardo will have to fight with record signing Arne Engels who joined from Augsburg on deadline day for a fee of £11 million.
Up front, only minor injuries have limited the game time of Nicolas Kuhn, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo, with Adam Idah and James Forrest getting some considerable game time.
Celtic’s Recent Form and Tactics
The perfect start to the season continued last week with a 3-0 away to St Mirren. As always, Celtic lined up in a 4-3-3, although there was a few notable tactical shifts. The absence of Matt O’Riley in the team meant that Reo Hatate took the role as the most advanced midfielder making the striker-like runs into the box. We saw this in his second goal where he found himself in the right place at the right time to finish a beautiful half-volley on his weaker left peg. Alastair Johnson also took a more inverted role playing a major role in all three goals, particularly the first when his decoy run removed Mark O’Hara from the centre of the pitch and gave Callum McGregor the space to open the scoring.
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Plus, there was excellent rotation from the midfield three who looked to stretch the 5-3-2 system of St Mirren.
As Celtic play Rangers on matchday four, they are yet to concede a goal in the league and have dominated every match they’ve played. Sunday will be a tougher test.
Injuries to Consider
It’s a clean bill of health for Celtic. There was an injury scare as it was noticed that Cameron Carter-Vickers wasn’t training on Friday however, Brendan Rodgers revealed that the American centre-back was given a rest day. Celtic can attribute their lack of injuries to the performances on the park. As they have been winning so comfortably and scoring early goals they have been able to make rotational substitutions, plus play with less of an intensity late on as the game is already done and dusted.
Celtic Predicted Lineup
Despite a floury of deadline-day signings, none will make the starting lineup, although expect them to feature throughout the game. The only changes from last week will be Nicolas Kuhn and Kyogo taking the jerseys of James Forrest and Adam Idah.
Kasper Schmeichel
Alastair Johnson
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Liam Scales
Greg Taylor
Callum McGregor
Reo Hatate
Paulo Bernardo
Nicolas Kuhn
Kyogo Furuhashi
Daizen Maeda
