This Saturday sees bitter Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers face each other for the first time in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
Tomorrow Celtic will line up to face Rangers in the Scottish top flight in what is one of the most hotly anticipated league matches in recent times.
Celtic Park is sure to be packed to the brim for the noon kick-off and there will be plenty of Old Firm debutants featuring, including Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers.
And as the Celtic manager mulls over his starting XI, we have predicted how his side are likely to line-up for the derby match.
GK: Dorus de Vries
Celtic’s new stopper could well get the nod over Scotland number one Craig Gordon this weekend with the former starting in the 4-1 home victory over Aberdeen in their previous match.
The 35-year-old joined the Hoops from Nottingham Forest and obviously doesn’t lack experience ahead of his first Glasgow derby.
RB: Mikael Lustig
Celtic fans may be forced to wait a little longer to see new signing Cristian Gamboa in action as Mikael Lustig’s experience should make him the preferred option at right-back by Rodgers.
CB: Kolo Toure
New signing Kolo Toure is used to playing in some of club football’s biggest matches but he is still unlikely to have experienced a game like the Old Firm derby.
The Ivorian has made a steady start to life at Parkhead and is expected to be at the heart of the Celtic defence this weekend.
CB: Erik Sviatchenko
Danish centre-back Erik Sviatchenko will partner Toure at the back and will be hoping he can add to his Old Firm tally after heading in an equaliser against Rangers in the Scottish Cup clash last term.
Unfortunately, Celtic ended up losing the match on penalties, and fans will be demanding nothing less than a win at Celtic Park.
LB: Kieran Tierney
Young left-back Kieran Tierney may have been a fitness concern after withdrawing from the Scotland squad during the international break but now he looks fit and ready to play against the Gers.
CDM: Scott Brown
The Hoops captain is one of the first names on the teamsheet and you’d think that even an injury wouldn’t stop the midfielder playing this weekend.
Fortunately the Scotland international is fully fit and his battle with Rangers new boy Joey Barton is sure to be an interesting one.
CDM: Nir Bitton
Israeli midfielder Nir Bitton will likely partner Brown in the middle of the park and will add plenty of physicality to what is sure to already be a heated contest.
RM: James Forrest
James Forrest has made an excellent start to the season under Brendan Rodgers with three goals in three league matches so far.
Rangers will have to keep close tabs on the 25-year-old winger who is likely to be a persistent threat down the right flank.
CAM: Tom Rogic
One of only two players in this starting XI with goalscoring experience against the newly-formed Rangers side, Tom Rogic will be keen to atone for his crucial penalty miss in the Scottish Cup semi-final earlier this year.
The Australian attacking midfielder caused Rangers plenty of problems at Hampden Park in April and will be looking to do the same again tomorrow.
LM: Scott Sinclair
New signing Scott Sinclair is another who has made an impressive start this season with a goal in each of his three league matches for the Hoops so far.
The former Manchester City and Chelsea man will get his first taste of Old Firm action this Saturday where he will be looking to make life difficult for Rangers right-back James Tavernier and keep his goal-a-game ratio intact.
ST: Moussa Dembele
With star striker Leigh Griffiths unlikely to start after picking up a hamstring injury while on international duty with Scotland, new signing Moussa Dembele will be expected to lead the line.
It will be a difficult task for the former Fulham man, who won’t be used to playing in front of such big and vocal crowds, but with four goals already this season Celtic fans should worry too much.
Full predicted XI (4-2-3-1): De Vries; Lustig,Toure, Sviatchenko, Tierney; Brown, Bitton; Forrest, Rogic, Sinclair; Dembele
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