Celtic starting XI vs Kilmarnock: 2 changes from RB Leipzig win as Kyogo benched + key defender omitted

Brendan Rodgers has named his Celtic starting XI and substitutes to face Kilmarnock in their latest Scottish Premiership outing at Rugby Park this afternoon.

The Hoops start the day sitting behind Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership table following the Dons 4-1 thumping win over Dundee on Saturday night, but a victory in Ayrshire would see the reigning champions leapfrog Jimmy Thelin’s men heading into the international break due to their superior goal difference.

Killie, meanwhile, will be aiming to bounce back from a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Dundee at Dens Park last weekend. The hosts sit eighth in the standings after accumulating 12 points from 11 games so far.

What has manager, Brendan Rodgers said?

“Always a tough game against Derek’s teams. I think when we played them a couple of times in the early part of last season, they were better than us and deserved to win. Once we got to grips with how we were working and our idea and focus in the turn of the year, then when we played, we were obviously in a different place.

“Obviously, come the end of the season, then we were in a really good place. I would say now we’re in an even better place. But that doesn’t take away the difficulty of the game. It’s still going to be very difficult. Derek’s teams are always well organised. They’re always super motivated and they will always challenge you. And that’s something that we’ll be ready for.”

Here's your confirmed starting line ups ahead of today’s Scottish Premiership encounter at Rugby Park...

Kilmarnock starting XI (3-5-2):

Robby McCrorie; Lewis Mayo, Joe Wright, Robbie Deas, Corrie Ndaba, Liam Donnelly, Brad Lyons, David Watson, Matty Kennedy, Kyle Vassell (C), Marley Watkins.

SUBS: Kieran O’Hara (GK), Jack Burroughs, Rory McKenzie, Gary Mackay-Steven, Fraser Murray, Innes Cameron, Bruce Anderson, Liam Polworth, Oliver Bainbridge.

Celtic starting XI (4-3-3):

Kasper Schmeichel; Alistair Johnston (C), Austin Trusty, Liam Scales,Greg Taylor; Callum McGregor (C), Arne Engels, Reo Hatate; Nicolas Kuhn, Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah.

SUBS: Viljami Sinisalo (GK), Kyogo Furuhashi, Alex Valle, Yang Hyun-jun, Luke McCowan, Paulo Bernardo, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh.