Confirmed Celtic v Rangers lineups: Boyata starts, Garner and January signing left out

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Celtic host Rangers in the Old Firm derby this afternoon.

Celtic head into the game having dropped just two points all season, and are edging ever closer to a remarkable unbeaten campaign.

Today, they take on bitter rivals Rangers at Celtic Park, and will be hoping for another win over their Glasgow neighbours having beaten them 5-1 and 2-1 earlier this term.

Manager Brendan Rodgers understands the importance not only of this game, but also of pursuing that unbeaten season, and he has gone with a strong back four of Mikael Lustig, Erik Sviatchenko, Dedryck Boyata – picked ahead of Jozo Simunovic – and Kieran Tierney, with Craig Gordon in goal.

Nir Bitton, Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong start in midfield, with James Forrest and Scott Sinclair called upon to support lone striker Moussa Dembele.

Simunovic is joined on the bench by Cristian Gamboa, Leigh Griffiths, Dorus de Vries, Patrick Roberts, Callum McGregor and January signing Eboue Kouassi.

Meanwhile, Rangers will be watched by new manager Pedro Caixinha, after the Portuguese boss was confirmed as Mark Warburtn’s replacement on Saturday.

Caretaker boss Graeme Murty remains in charge today though, and there are two shocks as Joe Garner and January signing Jon Toral both miss out entirely.

Wes Foderingham keeps his place in goal, with a back four of Lee Hodson, Danny Wilson, Clint Hill and Lee Wallace in frnt of him.

James Tavernier appears to be playing on the right of midfield, with Jason Holt partnering Emerson Hyndman in central midfield, and Barrie McKay on the left.

That would leave Martyn Waghorn and Kenny Miller in attack, though it could be a 4-3-3 with Tavernier coming into the middle and McKay pushing forward.

Philippe Senderos – who was sent off at Celtic Park earlier this season – is on the bench, along with Jak Alnwick, David Bates, Joe Dodoo, Michael O’Halloran, Harry Forrester and Josh Windass.