Follow all the pre-match build up, match action and reaction here in our LIVE blog:
Scottish Premiership midweek fixtures LIVE: Coverage of Celtic vs Hearts and Hibernian vs Rangers
Hello and welcome to our comprehensive midweek Scottish Premiership coverage of Celtic vs Hearts and Hibernian vs Rangers.
The two Glasgow giants face off against both Edinburgh clubs as the top four teams in the current standings prepare for battle.
League leaders Celtic welcome the Jambos to Parkhead as Ange Postecoglou takes charge of his 100th game as Hoops manager, while Rangers have made the short journey along the M8 to take on Hibernian on what is sure to be an emotional night at Easter Road with tributes planned in memory of former club owner Ron Gordon who died at the age of 68 last month.
With both match scheduled to kick-off at 7.45pm, stay tuned for your all-important pre-match team news...
Tonight’s game marks Ange Postecoglou’s 100th game in charge of the Parkhead club. What a memorable last 20 months it has been in Glasgow’s East End...
Rangers boss Michael Beale has named an unchanged starting XI to face Hibernian in Leith, with Antonio Colak given the nod over Alfredo Morelos to lead the line.
Hibernian manager Lee Johnson has named his starting XI to face Rangers. Star performers Martin Boyle and Aiden McGeady miss out through season-ending injuries.
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson has confirmed his starting XI to face Celtic at Parkhead. Defender Stephen Kingsley is fit enough to be included among the substitutes after recovering from a sickness bug but there’s no place in the side for Wigan Athletic loanee Stephen Humphrys.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed his starting XI to entertain Hearts. The Aussie has made FOUR changes to his line-up, with Anthony Ralston, Alexandro Bernabei, Matt O’Riley and Liel Abada drafted into the side.
Rangers will be eager to take care of business in Edinburgh this evening and hope that Hearts can do them a massive favour by beating leaders Celtic to narrow the gap to six point in the Scottish Premiership title race.
Beale told Rangers TV pre-match: “It’s going to be a good game. Our away form has been strong and we’re coming here for three points. We need to start the game strongly and impose our style from the outset. I want to see us running, pressing hard and being ruthless in both boxes.”
There’s been a lot of negativity around Hibs this season yet Lee Johnson’s men sit just five points behind their Captial rivals in fourth spot. A win on home soil would only fuel their belief of catching Hearts.
Celtic head into tonight’s clash against Hearts sitting nine points clear at the Premiership summit. In their last game, they had to come from behind to eventually hammer St Mirren 5-1 and scoring their 250th goal under Ange Postecoglou in the process.
The Hoops haven’t tasted defeat since losing to Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League group stage in Spain back in November, winning 18 of their last 19 games.
Meanwhile, Hearts bounced back from a disappointing loss to Motherwell with a convincing 3-0 success at home to St Johnstone last weekend. Robbie Neilson’s men will be aiming to take the game to Celtic but you have to go back to April 2012 for their last triumph at Parkhead.
Hibernian and Rangers will pay tribute to late Easter Road owner Ron Gordon before kick-off. The 68-year-old passed away last month after a shot battle with cancer. His wife and family will be in attendance tonight and both teams will acknowledge him pre-match with a minute’s applause and a special rendition of famous club anthem ‘Sunshine On Leith’.
