Key occasions
It’s a severe health take a look at for Rangers, with 10 starters current from Thursday night time. Nick Ames was there to take it in.
The groups
We now have our XIs. Celtic are with out their injured captain Callum McGregor and lacking Auston Trusty on the again, too. In come Maik Nawrocki and Luke McCowan. Rangers have only one change from midweek: Ridvan Yilmaz replaces Jefté.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Schlupp, McCowan, Engels, Hatate, Jota, Kühn, Maeda
Subs: Sinisalo, Taylor, Idah, Yang, Kenny, Murray, Ralston, Bonnar, Turley
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Ridvan, Sterling, Barron, Raskin, Diomande, Cerny, Dessers
Subs: Kelly, Pröpper, Lawrence, Bajrami, Nsiala, Igamane, Hagi, Rice, Danilo
Preamble
Hi there, hi there, hi there and welcome to our protection of a extremely important Previous Agency conflict. Visiting supporters might be current, a decision discovered over the query of ticket allocations. Round 2,400 Rangers followers will roar at Celtic Park this afternoon.
However that is no title conflict. Celtic are approach out in entrance, 16 factors forward of their rivals, Brendan Rodgers eyeing up one other home treble. Rangers, although, nonetheless have the thrill of Europe, by way of to the quarter-finals of the Europa League after Jack Butland’s heroism in opposition to Fenerbahce on Thursday night. That adrenaline, presumably nonetheless pumping, must make up for the fatigue of enjoying by way of further time.
After which there’s the Barry Ferguson component, the outdated captain turned supervisor, prepared for the warmth that’ll come his approach on the touchline, 16 years on from his final runaround on this fixture. It’ll be enjoyable. Kick-off’s at 12.30pm GMT.
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