Rangers manager Michael Beale has named his side to face Celtic this afternoon in the Cinch Premiership. The Englishman is under pressure following his team’s 5-1 humiliation out in Eindhoven during the week. Celtic are one point clear going into this game and they will look to put some pressure on their rivals but they will do so without any travelling supporters after the club were forced to reject an allocation due to safety concerns.
In goals, Jack Butland starts.
In defence, James Tavernier starts at right back with Dijon Sterling at left back. Celtic will hope to exploit these two positions and get at the central pairing of Connor Goldson and John Souttar.
In midfield, Ryan Jack starts with Todd Cantwell and Niko Raskin.
In attack, Kemar Roofe starts with Cyriel Dessers and Rabbi Matondo.
Beale is clearly going for control in the middle of the park and then pace in attack. Matondo will be marshalled by Alistair Johnston, who will relish the task.
Rangers Subs: McCrorie, Ridvan, Lundstrum, Lawrence, Lammers, Sima, Davies, Danilo and Cifuentes.
More importantly, the Celtic team consists of:
Hart, Johnston, Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Turnbull, O’Riley, Abada, Kyogo, Maeda.
On the bench: Bain, Palma, Yang, Holm, Kobayashi, Oh, Kwon, Bernabei and Ralston.
Rodgers has left out all the new signings, including the much-needed Nat Phillips. He also has Turnbull back in midfield, the player Ange Postecoglu wouldn’t play because he’s so slow. I’ve decided not to watch the game as I fear Celtic will get hammered today, thanks to the team choices Rodgers has made. What’s the point of bringing in good players if you’re not going to use them in arguably the most important game of the season thus far? Surely these guys are professionals who can slot straight in, so what’s this wrapping them in cotton wool stuff? I can’t believe Rodgers has left them out, he needs something new in there and yet has gone for the same old, same old. Shocking!