OPINION
On Sunday Celtic and Rangers will once again face off in one of the most combustible games in world football: the Old Firm derby.
Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers will be keen to get one over new Gers boss, and his former Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard. To do that he’ll have to put his faith in familiar faces, with the club enduring a somewhat quiet transfer window this summer.
Both Celtic and Rangers were successful in securing passage through to the Europa League group stages on Thursday night, and now they both have to go again in the season’s most important fixture.
The Bhoys have a couple of injury concerns going into the derby. Tom Rogic has been suffering with a knee injury that has been affecting his hamstring, which should result in him starting this game from the bench, if he’s in the squad at all.
Odsonne Edouard has reportedly declared himself fit, but like Rogic will probably be on the bench, while Nir Biton is out.
There will likely be just one change from the Celtic team that faced Suduva on Thursday, then, with James Forrest replacing Michael Johnston.
Dedryck Boyata will continue at centre back after scoring the winner against Hamilton last weekend, while Scott Brown and Olivier Ntcham maintain their partnership in the middle of midfield, with Rogic on the bench.
Scott Sinclair hasn’t been a Rodgers favourite of late, but Edouard’s fitness concerns coupled with Moussa Dembele’s sale to Lyon leave the 29-year-old as the only option on the left for the Hoops boss, bringing him in from the cold in the league.
Up top, it is expected that Leigh Griffiths will serve as the lone striker after scoring his 100th goal for the club against the Lithuanian minnows on Thursday.