Soccer Saturday pundits predict Celtic win over Rangers

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Matt Le Tissier, Paul Merson, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas are all predicting a win for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers

Sky Sports Soccer Saturday pundits Matt Le Tissier, Paul Merson, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas have all predicted a Celtic win over Rangers this weekend.

The Hoops host their fierce rivals at Celtic Park on Saturday in the first Old Firm derby of the season.

The game is a highly anticipated one, to say the least, given it is the first time that the fierce rivals have met in the league since the Gers demotion down the divisions four years ago.

Mark Warburton’s side are particularly keen to secure victory to prove they can challenge their rivals for the Scottish Premiership title this season.

Rangers manager Mark Warburton

But none of the Soccer Saturday pundits can see that happening as they all predict a Celtic win from the game

Merson and Thompson, in particular, believe that home advantage could be what help to see the Scottish champions to victory.

“Home advantage is huge in these Old Firm matches and I just think Celtic will be too strong for them,” Merson told Sky Sports.

“I think it will take Brendan Rodgers quite a while to get his ideas across full, but you’d still expect them to have too much on home turf,” added Thompson.

Celtic’s Scott Sinclair in action with Hapoel Be’er-Sheva’s Ben Bitton

Nicholas meanwhile, feels that Celtic’s new found pace in attack will be the key factor to victory while Le Tissier believes that Rangers will take their time to become accustomed to a higher level of football.

“We’re looking at Brown v Barton as the potential for fireworks but I think this will be decided by Celtic’s pace in attack,” Nicholas told Sky Sports.

“I think Rangers might take a little bit of getting used to competing at this level again in the Old Firm derby. They’ve got quite a few experienced players but I think they’ll be up against it on Saturday,” he added.

Rangers’ manager Mark Warburton