MY ACCOUNT
– Rangers have failed to win any of the last four Old Firm derbies in the league
– Celtic are on a 12-match winning run in the Scottish Premiership
– Recommended bet: Celtic to win
The second Old Firm derby of the season feels like a must-win match for Rangers, but Celtic look primed to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership standings to 12 points.
Both teams will head into the fixture in impressive form, with Rangers having won all four of their matches since Michael Beale’s appointment as manager, while Celtic are on a 12-game winning streak in the league that dates back to September.
Ange Postecoglou’s side have certainly been the standout team in the Premiership this season, winning 18 of their 19 matches to date and another success over their fierce rivals on Monday would surely mean the Bhoys have one hand on the title, even at this early stage.
Team news
Rangers should be boosted by the availability of forward Alfredo Morelos, who is expected to be passed fit to play despite hobbling off during last week’s 3-0 victory over Motherwell with an apparent hamstring issue.
Morelos’ availability could prove crucial for the Gers as fellow forward Kemar Roofe remains a major doubt, while Ianis Hagi is still a few weeks away from returning from his long-term knee injury.
Celtic have already signed three players this winter, with Tomoki Iwata, Yuki Kobayashi and Alistair Johnston all arriving and the latter two could be handed their debuts at Ibrox.
Postecoglou does have fitness concerns with Sead Haksabanovic and Anthony Ralston both still on the treatment table, while David Turnbull must serve the final match of his suspension following his sending off against St Johnstone before Christmas.
The stats
Rangers have failed to win any of the last four Old Firm derbies in the league, losing three of those games, with their last success coming at Ibrox in August 2021 when Filip Helander scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.
The Gers do boast an impressive home record this season as they are unbeaten in their 10 league fixtures at Ibrox, winning nine of those games and scoring 28 goals.
Celtic have won 12 matches on the spin in the Premiership and 18 of their 19 league fixtures to date this term, the only exception being the 2-0 defeat they suffered at St Mirren in September.
The Bhoys were 4-0 winners when they last faced Rangers at Parkhead in September, with a Liel Abada brace and further strikes from Jota and David Turnbull helping them to an emphatic win.
Kyogo Furuhashi only lasted five minutes of that game before being forced off through injury, but he is the leading scorer in the Premiership this season, netting 14 times to date.
Prediction
Rangers have certainly found their feet quickly under Beale, but they have ridden their luck at times during their ongoing four-match winning streak and are yet to face a team of Celtic’s quality.
Celtic have appeared on a different level to everyone else in Scotland this season and, after thrashing Hibernian 4-0 last time out, they will be confident of registering a seventh successive league win on the road.
The Bhoys were 2-1 winners on their last visit to Ibrox and they are 23/20 with LiveScore Bet to register another victory at the home of their bitter rivals on Monday.
If Celtic do claim all three points then they would move 12 points clear at the top of the standings and it would be difficult to see them relinquishing their grip on the title from there.
