Celtic vs Rangers team news: Hoops fringe man given nod + visitors dealt huge blow as key star absent
Celtic and Rangers team news has been confirmed ahead of today’s crucial Scottish Premiership clash at Parkhead
Celtic and Rangers team lines for this afternoon’s sixth and final Old Firm derby of the season have been confirmed - with some big selection calls made by both managers for a blockbuster Premiership showdown.
Interim Hoops manager Martin O’Neill has made only ONE alteration from last Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Hibs at Easter Road, with Luke McCowan replacing Sebastian Tounekti. Match-winner Kelechi Iheanacho remains on the bench and will hope to make a similar impact in the second half.
Light Blues boss Danny Rohl makes THREE changes to his starting XI from Monday night’s 2-1 defeat at league leaders Hearts, with Dujon Sterling, Nicolas Raskin (absent from matchday squad) and Andreas Skov Olsen dropping out. Fit-again left-back Tuur Rommens starts, while Connor Barron is drafted in to midfield and Oliver Antman is given the nod in attack, despite not featuring in three of the club’s last four games.
Liam Scales on Celtic vs Rangers
“I’m excited for Sunday. There’s a lot on the line and these are the type of games that you want to play in, so I’m excited and really motivated.
“We’ve done well over the last five games and we’re in the best place we could possibly be going in to a game like this. We’re training hard, preparing tactically and we’re in a good place.
“Everyone wants the same thing, which is to win trophies. To have everyone back in the stadium, the atmosphere will be great and we’re looking forward to it.
“Having the noise there, it can be intimidating for the opposition, and it gives us a bit extra. We’ve felt the positive impact from that in the last couple of weeks.”
Tuur Rommens on Celtic vs Rangers
“I think we go in full force. And of course we think that we can take something there. I think we have a great group, great players. So, yes, looking forward to it. It’s a big stadium, great atmosphere. Of course, it’s a derby. So it will be intense.
“I always thought that the pressure at a club like Rangers is big. But you need to experience it yourself and the pressure is there every game. I expected it and it is what it is.
“If you play Celtic or another team, it’s always about the next game. And I think also for the supporters, for ourselves, for the club, it’s a big one on Sunday. I think these are the biggest games in the season.
“I think a lot of viewers, a lot of atmosphere, everything around it is so big. So when I came here, I was really looking forward to these games. We just need to win also for these Champions League places.”
Starting line ups confirmed
CELTIC XI
Starting XI: Viljami Sinisalo; Alistair Johnston, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor (C), Arne Engels, Benjamin Nygren, Luke McCowan, Yang Hyun-jun, Daizen Maeda.
SUBS: Ross Doohan (GK), Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sebastian Tounekti, Marcello Saracchi, Reo Hatate, Dane Murray, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston.
RANGERS XI
Starting XI: Jack Butland; Tuur Rommens, Emmanuel Fernandez, Nasser Djiga, James Tavernier (C), Connor Barron, Tochi Chukwuani, Mohamed Diomande, Mikey Moore, Oliver Antman, Youssef Chermiti.
SUBS: Liam Kelly (GK), Dujon Sterling, Max Aarons, Jayden Meghoma, Thelo Aasgaard, Djeidi Gassama, Nedim Bajrami, Bojan Miovski, Andreas Skov Olsen.
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