Glasgow Rangers know that eight wins from their remaining eight Premiership fixtures will guarantee they win a primary league title for the reason that 2020/21 marketing campaign.
They welcome Celtic to Ibrox on Sunday for the third Outdated Agency derby conflict of the season, and it’s arguably an important match of 2023/24 up to now.
Philippe Clement led the Gers to a cushty 3-1 victory over Hibernian throughout their final league match, however the memo is evident forward of tomorrow – three factors are all that issues.
The supervisor may have Ridvan Yilmaz out there for the important league conflict, whereas Abdallah Sima could have an enormous half to play. The query is, will he begin? Or must make do with a cameo look.
With that in thoughts, here is a take a look at who Clement may unleash in opposition to Celtic at Ibrox in a mammoth Outdated Agency conflict, with three potential modifications from the win over Hibs…
1
GK – Jack Butland
No surprises right here. Butland has played in every single Premiership, European and League Cup match for the membership this season, lacking only a single recreation, a Scottish Cup conflict in opposition to Dumbarton.
In his two Outdated Agency appearances this season, Butland has conceded three objectives, however he will likely be hoping to document his first-ever clear sheet in opposition to Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday, and it may show to be a pivotal second within the title race.
2
RB – James Tavernier
The long-serving captain continued his high quality goalscoring streak within the prime flight in opposition to Hibs final week, scoring for the third domestic recreation in succession, and he will likely be hoping to make it 4 in a row tomorrow.
Tavernier already has a objective in opposition to Celtic this time period, scoring the comfort within the 2-1 defeat in December. Throughout 34 matches in his profession, the Englishman has scored 5 objectives and grabbed six assists in opposition to Celtic.
The previous Wigan Athletic man has received simply 9 Outdated Agency matches since becoming a member of Rangers in 2015. Win quantity ten could be particular certainly.
3
CB – Connor Goldson
The defender is Clement’s first-choice centre-back, and he will likely be making his twenty fifth Outdated Agency look on Sunday.
Goldson scored a double in opposition to Celtic in October 2020 in the course of the Gentle Blues’ great unbeaten run and one other objective on Sunday may go a good distance for the membership to safe all three factors and provides them a large increase within the title race.
4
CB – John Souttar
Like Goldson, Souttar has additionally scored in an Outdated Agency derby. The defender headed within the second objective throughout an eventual 3-0 victory over Celtic final Could, but Ange Postecoglou’s aspect had already received the title, rendering the match barely uncompetitive.
The Scot has shaped a strong partnership with Goldson on the coronary heart of the defence lately and if they’ll forestall any errors from creeping into their video games, then a clear sheet is actually a chance.
5
LB – Ridvan Yilmaz
Throughout his pre-match press convention, Clement said that he would wait till nearer to the match to evaluate whether or not Yilmaz was prepared or not.
“Ridvan undecided but, we’ll see tomorrow and decide.” Said Clement on Friday, and he will likely be hoping the Turkish gem is able to go.
For the reason that finish of December, the £5m defender has started ten league matches and is without doubt one of the membership’s most constant performers of late.
6
CM – John Lundstram
The midfielder will convey loads of expertise to the Outdated Agency conflict and this might actually settle the nerves of Mohamed Diomande, who will likely be his accomplice in the midst of the pitch.
Lundstram has received just three games in opposition to Celtic since becoming a member of in the summertime of 2021, however he will likely be anticipating this document to vary between now and the top of the marketing campaign.
7
CM – Mohamed Diomande
Being thrown into the Outdated Agency cauldron both makes or breaks a participant, however Diomande has proven loads of mettle since arriving in Glasgow again in January.
The 22-year-old has already featured 11 times for the Gers, scoring twice and has settled into the first-team squad with ease. If he can function at his easiest in opposition to Celtic, then they might discover it laborious to forestall him from making runs from deep.
8
RW – Dujon Sterling
Whereas Clement lastly has choices out extensive once more, it ought to be Sterling who’s given the nod to begin. Scott Wright has not been nice lately, whereas Ross McCausland may very well be a great possibility to come back off the bench late within the recreation.
Sterling has sometimes been used within the midfield or defence this time period, however has slotted in as a right-winger as soon as, scoring against Benfica, proving he can deal with the stress.
9
AM – Todd Cantwell
The 26-year-old scored in opposition to Celtic within the remaining derby match of final season however has failed so as to add to his tally within the subsequent two video games.
With six goals and five assists up to now in 2023/24, Cantwell has proven a eager eye for objective whereas working in an attacking midfield function and Clement will likely be hoping he can keep this kind heading into the conflict on Sunday.
10
LW – Abdallah Sima
Whereas Fabio Silva has not carried out a lot flawed throughout his spell on the left wing, the return of Sima is a large increase for the workforce.
The on-loan winger has scored 15 goals all through the season, regardless of lacking 13 video games because of a hamstring harm suffered on worldwide obligation. There isn’t a doubt he could cause the Celtic defence loads of issues.
11
ST – Cyriel Dessers
Dessers has actually divided opinion since becoming a member of Rangers, however a tally of 17 goals in 44 matches is a strong sufficient return.
Will he have the ability to ship a constructive efficiency on Sunday? Because the striker has usually gone matches with out having an affect on the workforce, one thing that merely can’t occur in opposition to Celtic.
He can endear himself to the supporters ought to he rating his first derby objective, and what higher place to open your account.
Predicted Rangers XI vs Celtic in full: GK – Butland; RB – Tavernier, CB – Souttar, CB – Goldson, LB – Yilmaz; CM – Lundstram, CM – Diomande; RW – Sterling, AM – Cantwell, LW – Sima; ST – Dessers
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