Barry Ferguson has suggested that there is “absolutely no chance” of Celtic playing a weakened side against Rangers on Sunday.
The Hoops have already wrapped up their eighth consecutive league title ahead of their trip to Ibrox this weekend, but former Gers midfielder Ferguson doesn’t expect the Bhoys to take it easy against their bitter rivals.
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “There is absolutely no chance of Neil Lennon playing a weakened team. I played in the same era as Neil and we know what this fixture means.
“It doesn’t matter if the league is done and dusted – you want to put one over your arch enemy. The outcome of this game could also have psychological impact going into next season.
“You need to put out your strongest team and that’s why I don’t think there will be changes in the Celtic team or Rangers, apart from in goal with Allan McGregor suspended.”
OPINION
Ferguson is right. Title or no title, this match means everything to both sides of the Glasgow divide, and there is no way that Lennon could get away with, or want to, field a a weakened side. Celtic might have tied up their eighth in a row, but there are still bragging rights on the line here, and with his future still not 100%, Lennon needs to be winning every game he can. Sunday’s match won’t decide whether he gets the Parkhead job or not, but his approach to it could tell those at the top a lot about how he views the club. As for Rangers, they will be desperate to win this one, and losing an Old Firm at this late stage of the season could have a big psychological impact going into the summer. If the Hoops were to end the season with an Old Firm defeat, would that feel as if the balance of power was shifting ever so slightly. Perhaps. Probably, best not to take any chances.