Celtic face Livingston this afternoon in the Scottish Premiership. The Scottish Champions need to get back to winning ways after a disappointing draw against Kairat Almaty in the UEFA Champions League Playoff First Leg.
Brendan Rodgers has said he will shuffle the pack with a view to that trip out of Europe. There are a number of issues with injuries and lack of options, meaning that it is not entirely clear how Celtic will set up.
Celtic go into the game without Adam Idah, Auston Trusty and Alistair Johnston. The Canadian Internationalist is expected to be out for around 12 weeks with a hamstring injury with Academy product Colby Donovan expected to come into the first team picture to compete with Tony Ralston for a place in the team. Trusty is out with a foot injury while Idah has a knock to the knee.
Alistair Johnston of Celtic is stretchered off after sustaining an injury during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Brendan has said that he will make a number of changes as he looks to freshen things up with Tuesday’s return leg in mind. There are limitations to what the manager can do given the lack of offensive recruitments.
Kasper Schmeichel will start in goals. The Danish Internationalist was an assured presence at the back in the midweek and his experience will be invaluable if a result is to be forthcoming.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 20: Kieran Tierney of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
In defence, expect Kieran Tierney to continue with Liam Scales. However, there may be a debut for JSP, the loan signing from Manchester City as Cameron Carter-Vickers’ minutes are managed. Tony Ralston will start at left back. KT may even captain the side if CalMac starts from the bench.
In midfield, expect changes to freshen up the starting XI with Arne Engels, Paulo Bernado and Luke McCowan all coming in to start. Benji Nygren could very well start in the wide right role or, equally, Luke McCowan may be pushed to the left side of a front three.
Shin Yamada of Celtic FC in action during Como Cup match played between Al-Ahli and Celtic FCat Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
In attack, Celtic may require to start either Shin Yamada or Johnny Kenny through the middle with Yang and James Forrest vying to play out wide. The manager could play Yamada off the right, too. There are a number of combinations that the manager may consider but the reality is that there is not an abundance of quality options.
There’s been a couple of recent comments about us trying a different formation, mostly attributed to unavailability of players.
There is also the old famous phrase about insanity being defined as doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result (words to that effect).
We’re not quite at the insanity stage, but my goodness we’re all on the edge it seems.
Given Kairat’s proven ability to play the back 8 or 9 and then counter (or play for penalties) and our very diminished ability in pulling teams from side to side in order to create these openings (not to mention a lack of clear cut centre forward in that system)…. is now the time to stick or twist? Try something different in the heat of Kazakhstan to better our chances of a win with the players we have, or stick to the tried and tested and familiar system because it’s less of a risk than tactical change?
Maybe today’s game with an alternative line up will inform BR if the replacements are “up for it”. I would love to think so. Football can hinge on moments like this, and when the chips are down, sometimes unlikely heroes can surface. Let’s hope so. Boardroom attentions aside, we need to hope the guys on the pitch can deliver above all else.
Go for it and thats for supporters we are still in the champions league and the players have fought to put us there i just hope livingstone dont park the bus that goes for kakistan they will play same way