Ange Postecoglou will have his team picked for this afternoon’s game against theRangers. However, until the team is announced, we can try and predict what the manager will do with his Starting XI. There are some major decisions for the manager to make, namely who he starts at right-back, who he starts in central midfield and who plays on the wings.
Joe Hart will start in goals. The Englishman recorded a cleansheet in the dominant win over Hibs at Easter Road and will be hoping to shut out Michael Beale’s Rangers.
The manager will likely go with a defensive back line comprising the returning Josip Juranovic, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Greg Taylor. This is Celtic’s strongest defence at present.
In midfield, Ange has to decide whether to play Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley or Aaron Mooy in the two No.8 roles ahead of Callum McGregor. Given Mooy’s impressive form, it seems that the Australian will edge ahead in the race to start with Matt O’Riley being the one to drop to the bench. Although, there would be certainly few complaints if Mooy or Hatate were on the bench given the strength of the Celtic midfield.
In attack, Kyogo will start through the middle. Daizen Maeda will certainly start on the left but the question is who starts on the right. Jota, Liel Abada and James Forrest will all be vying for the role but only one player can start. Given Jota is a big game player, we’d expect him to get the nod. The Portuguese sensation joined the club to be involved in games like these and you would expect him to be at his best, especially given the issues Rangers are having at left back at present.
Predicted XI: Hart; Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Mooy, Hatate; Jota, Kyogo, Maeda.
I know Maeda has been playing well lately, but I’d go for Abada ahead of him, and let him do his usual to Barisic.