Celtic v Livingston Preview – ‘As far as I’m concerned Edouard is not for sale,’ Lenny

CELTIC take on Livingston tomorrow afternoon with a formidable home record behind them. Celtic have only lost once in their last 81 domestic games at Celtic Park. The Celts have won 23 of 25 unbeaten home games since the start of last season, with 17 clean sheets along the way. You’d have to say that’s some frightening statistics for any side having to come and play Celtic in their own back yard.

Our opponents however will have their own confidence lifted as they can point to the fact it is three games since the Treble Treble winners have managed to find the net against our West Lothian opponents.

As such it is perhaps not that surprising Livingston manager Gary Holt doesn’t feel his players should be fearful of the big occasion, as they take on Celtic on Saturday

He told the West Lothian Courier (page 53, 21/11/19): “What an occasion it is. It’s something for us to embrace. The crowd will be massive and the atmosphere will be phenomenal.

“There’s nothing to fear. Absolutely nothing to fear. At the end of the day if you put in the hard work and do everything we ask of you then what else can you do?”

That confidence isn’t misplaced considering last time out Livingston emerged victorious in a 2-0 win at the Tony Macaroni stadium and if any team has caused Celtic’s rhythm to be upset over the last couple of season’s it is Livingston. They seem to have found a way to defend against Celtic and it will be down to Neil Lennon to find a way to counter those past problems this time around.

Three points are essential for Celtic and home form will be leaned on to ensure those points are in the bank by close of play and the momentum is carried on.

Livingston’s own league form since that win against Celtic has becoming worrying for Holt and his players.

That win is their only victory since a 2-1 win over St Mirren in August and Holt’s men haven’t won in their five games since. They’ll also be well aware themselves that facing up to a full Celtic Park will be a very different proposition than on the plastic pitch at home.

It will also be difficult for Livi with their own manager admitting to joining in training as a squad already short on numbers faces a bit of an injury crisis.

Holt spoke to Capital City Press yesterday: “We had 16 players training on Thursday, two of those were goalkeepers and two were young boys who are out on loan elsewhere, I had to join in training on Monday and Tuesday, and last week as well”

With Nicky Devlin, Cece Pepe and Chris Erskine injured, Livi have been further hampered by Lee Miller jumping ship to Falkirk to work alongside David McCracken as the Bairns interim management team following the sacking of Ray McKinnon.

Celtic on the other hand are in a rich vein of form. Since losing that match at Livingston they have responded well. Seven straight wins with the home and away wins over Lazio and a 4-0 thumping of Aberdeen at Pittodrie the most impressive results. It has shown Celtic have responded the right way.

In fact defensively Celtic have been just as strong as their attacking performances. At Celtic Park it’s nine in a row for Celtic with six clean sheets along the way. No team domestically has scored more than a solitary goal against Celtic at Parkhead.

Celtic’s only real concerns will be the freshness of the players returning from International duty and the longer term injury to Hatem Elhamed.

There were rumours Mo Elyounoussi would be out for a few weeks but wires seem to be crossed as it seems the player himself didn’t think his foot injury is too serious. Neil Lennon confirmed that the Norwegian will be missing for tomorrow and also for Thursday night’s visit from Rennes.

Scotland had a bruising encounter against Kazakhstan on Tuesday night with James Forrest in particular on the end of a brutal tackle to the ankle. Forrest though seemed mobile enough once he got going again and there were no further reported issues with Greg Taylor, who had a very impressive couple of games for the national side and Callum McGregor strolled both Tuesday night and Cyprus last Saturday.

Ryan Christie who had been carrying a knee problem also seemed to show little ill effects, especially when scoring a brilliant opening goal against Cyprus.

Neil Lennon’s press conference will no doubt flag up any further injury concerns but with most of the squad taking the international break as a chance to recharge the batteries it should be a fresh Celtic squad itching to be getting back to league action against Livingston.

This Livi side will fancy themselves as Celtic’s bogey team. The stats say they’ll lose that tag when Saturday comes.

Niall J

About Author

As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

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