Rangers will widen the gap to a chasm over Celtic
The first Old Firm derby of 2021 will be on show at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership lunchtime kick-off. Once more, few (if any) people will be in attendance in the flesh to witness one of the biggest matches on the European football calendar, but that is unlikely to detract from what is almost always a full-blooded encounter rife with controversy, goals, and plenty of cards being shown. Visitors Celtic have three games in hand on their bitter rivals Glasgow Rangers, but stand a full 16 points behind Steven Gerrard's unbeaten men. Matches in lieu in a COVID-hit season are seldom a boon at the best of times, and there's every reason to suggest the points differential will increase to 19 when the final whistle blows. Read our preview here:
More for Alfredo
Custodian Allan McGregor celebrated his 400th appearance in the blue, white, and red of the Glasgow giants during the 2-0 triumph over St. Mirren in Paisley last time out. Another mainstay who had reason to be cheerful in that fixture was striker Alfredo Morelos, recalled to the XI in place of Ryan Kent. The Colombian staked his claim for the big one by bagging his first goal since the ding-dong clash with Benfica back in a November Europa League game, and would surely relish the opportunity to continue in the same vein against Celtic. 2020/2021 has not been his most productive campaign, but he's an excellent option to be able to call upon. Leading the line in a 'Christmas Tree formation also suits his playing style of running into the channels and using a burst of pace to go beyond the shoulder of the last defender. What's bound to a feisty affair will test his discipline to its limit, however, and he needs to mindful of that. He'll be well supplied to finish off chances if he can keep his head cool.
Barkas up the wrong tree
Plying your trade in goal for one of the two giants in the SPFL can lean on the 'quiet' end of things more often than not, but that will not be the case on Saturday for Vasilis Barkas. The rangy Dutch-born 'keeper who turns out for the Greece national team has had to contend with some uncharacteristic dips in form since signing for Celtic in the summer for a fee in excess of £5m, a sum rarely seen north of the border for an incoming player. He'll need to be at his sharpest to repel the attacking threats Rangers possess, and that will also require the central defensive partnership of Nir Bitton and Kristoffer Ajer to stick to Morelos like glue. Elsewhere, attacking midfielder David Turnbull has gone from strength to strength since his fruitful loan spell at Motherwell earlier in the season, and has bagged three goals in as many games behind the front two. Veteran Steven Davis will need to use all of his experience to track the 21 year-old's darting runs and push the Hoops' attacks out wide instead.
Lennon out of the band?
The balance of power has most certainly shifted in Scottish football this season. With the national side finally qualifying for a major tournament and Rangers back on top, it feels like a step back into the late 90s. Celtic's long dominance, enjoyed both before, during, and after the other half's dramatic fall and rise, is almost certain to come to an end, despite only having tasted defeat a single time in the league to date. Pressure has been growing on Neil Lennon for quite some time now, and whilst it's difficult to envisage a scenario whereby any replacement could prevent the title belatedly returning to Ibrox after a keenly felt absence, the double financial and reputational blow of bowing out of Europe so early on, coupled with the desperate attempt to keep Rangers in their sights, is only eventually going to lead to one outcome. On the pitch, Betfair are offering odds of 3.40 for a home winning at half-time/full-time bet, and an early strike would leave another uphill struggle for their adversaries.
