OPINION
Celtic will look to move to within one point of top of the table Heart of Midlothian when they take on Craig Levein’s side on Saturday.
The Hoops will be eager to repeat last Sunday’s 3-0 Betfred Cup victory over the same opposition, and go into the game on the back of a resounding 5-0 win over Dundee in midweek.
Brendan Rodgers’s natural inclination after a performance as dominating as Wednesday’s will be to make no changes to his team, but that would be a mistake.
As well as the Bhoys played at Dens Park, there are still areas of the team that can be improved – despite the multitude of injuries plaguing the club at present.
In between the sticks is not one of those areas, however, with Craig Gordon the unquestioned number one at Parkhead.
Mikael Lustig has been a first team mainstay this season, but the Sweden international should miss out here. His performances have dipped this campaign and Cristian Gamboa should be given another chance to stake his claim at right back.
Kieran Tierney and Dedryck Boyata both deserve to continue at left back and centre back respectively, but Filip Benkovic should miss out after a busy week. The Leicester loanee has played two games in four days and deserves a rest here, with Kristoffer Ajer coming in at the heart of the defence.
Rodgers should revert to a 4-2-3-1 despite the success of his 4-4-2 formation on Wednesday. Hearts pose a significant attacking threat and so Youssouf Mulumbu should be deployed as the midfield destroyer. Tom Rogic would be the best bet to partner him in the middle of the park with Callum McGregor missing out.
The attacking midfield trio picks itself at this stage, with James Forrest and Scott Sinclair excelling on the wings and Ryan Christie playing out of his skin just behind the lone frontman Odsonne Edouard.
