Celtic starting XI vs Kilmarnock: 4 changes as Rodgers shuffles pack with outgoing star + Hoops stalwart given nod

Brendan Rodgers has named his Celtic starting XI and substitutes to face Kilmarnock in their latest Scottish Premiership clash at Parkhead this lunchtime.

The Hoops could have had the opportunity to bask in a title party today with a victory against the Ayrshire outfit, but their failure to beat rock-bottom St Johnstone in Perth last Sunday made that mathematically impossible.

However, a win this afternoon coupled with a Rangers loss against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday would ensure Rodgers’ men are crowned four-in-a-row champions before the split.

Rodgers has made FOUR changes to his line-up from the shock 1-0 defeat to Saints last weekend. Auston Trusty, Jeffrey Schlupp, Nicolas Kuhn and Jota all drop to the bench with Liam Scales, the outgoing Greg Taylor, James Forrest and Adam Idah all drafted in from the start.

What has defender, Cameron Carter-Vickers said?

“It’s about us going out there tomorrow and performing the way we want to perform and winning the game. We need to focus on our game and then whatever happens after that, happens. You want to continue to play well and win matches right up until the end of the season. You want to win every match, and that’s definitely our aim to finish as strong as we can.

“At the beginning of the season, the aim was to win everything domestically and we’ve got one cup in the bag, and we’re still in a position where we can win two more. And then, Champions League-wise, we wanted to do well and show that can compete at that level, and I think we did that, so overall, it’s been good.

The best food, sport and culture in our GlasgowWorld newsletter - sign up here.

“Of course, in an ideal world it would have been lovely to celebrate at home and win the league at home, something we haven’t done the past few seasons, but nothing is scripted in football. You’ve got to go out there and win games of football and whether we win it at home or away, at the end of the day it’s the league title and that’s what we’re trying to win.”

Here's your confirmed starting line ups ahead of today’s encounter in Glasgow’s east end..

Celtic starting XI: (4-3-3)

Viljami Sinisalo; Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Greg Taylor; Callum McGregor (C), Arne Engels, Reo Hatate; James Forrest, Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah.

SUBS: Scott Bain (GK), Auston Trusty, Jota, Nicolas Kuhn, Luke McCowan, Jeffrey Schlupp, Maik Nawrocki, Paulo Bernardo, Anthony Ralston.

Kilmarnock starting XI: (4-2-3-1)

Kieran O’Hara; Lewis Mayo, Joe Wright, Stuart Findlay, Corrie Ndaba, Liam Donnelly, Brad Lyons (C), David Watson, Fraser Murray, Danny Armstrong, Bobby Wales.

SUBS: Robby McCrorie (GK), Calvin Ramsay, Robbie Deas, Liam Polworth, Matty Kennedy, Bruce Anderson, Gary Mackay-Steven, Marley Watkins, Innes Cameron.