It’s a busy day of festive football this afternoon and one that could have significant implications in the title race…
There’s a full card in the Scottish Premiership this afternoon starting with the Edinburgh Derby at Easter Road which has a 12.30pm kick-off and ending with the New Firm Derby at Pittodrie as Aberdeen entertain Dundee United – that one kicks off at 5.45pm. Sandwiched in between are the 3pm kick-offs including Livingston v Celtic and theRangers v Motherwell in the fourth versus third battle.
Celtic Team News
Wilfried Nancy spoke to Sky Sports yesterday ahead of today’s match, confirming that Reo Hatate – who missed the win over Aberdeen through illness – is the only addition to today’s squad with everyone else from the previous match good to go.
🍀 Good to "validate" work with a win
🍀 "Humble" enough to make adjustments
🍀 "My life has been about challenges"Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy on the challenge of visiting Livingston on Saturday – live on Sky Sports 📺 pic.twitter.com/2rnpwvAqsI
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 26, 2025
Hatate might come in but is perhaps more likely to start on the bench with Nancy likely to go with the same starting XI who produced a better late than never first victory of the Frenchman to significantly relieve the weight on his shoulders.
Celtic will be without Kelechi Iheanacho, Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand and Marcelo Saracchi (all hamstring) along with Jota (knee) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles). These players when fit, plus hopefully some quality additions in the January transfer window will significantly improve the Celtic side in 2026.
The only possible change today, outside of late injury concerns, would be to play Daizen Maeda through the middle and bring James Forrest into the starting XI after his goalscoring exploits last week.
That would allow Johnny Kenny to sit this one out given his lack of confidence in front of goal. But given the physicality of any David Martindale side, Nancy might prefer to have Kenny in there for one last chance to establish himself before the transfer window opens. Surely then the penny will have dropped as Michael Nicholson finally gets around to replacing Kyogo – maybe even with Kyogo.
World class in everything Michael? Aye right.
Predicted Celtic Team
Kasper Schmeichel will start behind Tony Ralston, Auston Trusty and Kieran Tierney. The midfield duo will be Arne Engels and Callum McGregor with Yang and Daizen Maeda out wide. In attack, Johnny Kenny starts through the middle with Benji Nygren and Luke McCowan in those advanced midfield roles.
On the bench for Celtic this afternoon expect to see: Sinisalo, Simpson-Pusey, Scales, Shin, Hatate, Bernardo, Forrest, Murray and Donovan.
Match Officials
Matthew MacDermid will take charge of this afternoon’s match at the Tony Macaroni Arena between Livingston and Celtic. He will be assisted by Frank Connor and Dougie Potter while Nick Walsh is the VAR and he will be assisted by Graeme Leslie.
Kick-off Time
Livingston v Celtic has a 3pm kick-off time this afternoon, Saturday 27 December 2025.
Where to Watch
Today’s match is live on Sky Sports after the Hibs v Hearts match at Easter Road – so a great double-header with Celtic looking for a favour from the Hibees in the Edinburgh Derby before collecting the points for Wilfried Nancy’s first away win as Celtic manager.
Both matches will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Sportscene will show highlights on the BBC Scotland channel at 7.15pm this evening and will then be repeated at 11.55pm on BBC One.
Today’s game is also live on Celtic TV for subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland.
Predicted Score
Livingston 1-3 Celtic – just a hunch.
😬 "Disappointing" season so far
🙅 Criticism of Nancy has been "really harsh"
🦁 "More than capable" of keeping Livi upHear from Livingston manager David Martindale ahead of Saturday's Scottish Premiership match with Celtic – live on Sky Sports 📺 pic.twitter.com/h4Wm1yBX7Z
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 26, 2025
COYBIG!
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Both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special dedication to your copies please let us know. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…
Nancy will come we need new brains coaching knowledge in Europe he had a bad start but look at the teams league leaders cupfinal then two games we should have easy wins against aberdeen good quick passing now livingston plastic pitch hope we have rain cause livingston wont water and sfa rules wont force them even though makers instructions is water heavily before game And martindale whose coaching is punt ball into aponents half hope fore mistake get second ball chip it beyond defence hipe for miss pass get corner freekick shy lob into box see what happens with taking as much time to slow the game down eat up the clock get a draw or bonus a win but we play not to get beat home or away