Old Firm teams news and prediction: Celtic vs Rangers

The first Old Firm of the season is shaping up to be another cracker. The fierce rivals are separated by just a point at the top of the Scottish Premiership, with Rangers leading the way, albeit having played a game more than Celtic. 

For the first time, WhoScored.com will provide full statistical coverage of Scottish football's showpiece event in what promises to be another entertaining encounter in Glasgow. 

Ahead of the meeting at Celtic Park, we have all your need-to-know match information in one place. 

When is kick off? 

Saturday 17th October, 12:30 GMT 

Where is the match? 

Celtic Park, Glasgow 

Where can I watch it? 

Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football 

The season so far 

Celtic have earned 25 of 27 available points in the opening nine league matches of the season, with their only slip up coming in the 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock on the second gameweek of the campaign. Since that stalemate in early August, however, Neil Lennon have overseen seven successive league victories and just three goals conceded in that period. 

Like Celtic, Rangers too are unbeaten this season, earning 26 points in their opening 10 matches. Steven Gerrard will be thrilled by his side's start to the campaign, but their two stalemates have come on the road at Livingston and Hibernian, respectively. Rangers did, though, win this game last season and will hope for a repeat as they look to deny Celtic a 10th straight Scottish Premiership title. 

Team News 

Celtic will hope to have Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Christie available for the Old Firm. The former tested positive for Coronavirus while on international duty with the France U21 side, but has completed his 10 days of self-isolation in his homeland and is expected to arrive back in Scotland on Friday. For Christie, he, along with Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, was forced to self-isolate after Stuart Armstrong tested positive for COVID-19. The Gunners, though, have cleared Tierney to face Manchester City, and Celtic believe Christie should be given a similar reprieve. 

Nir Bitton and Hatem Elhamed both sit out the Old Firm, while James Forrest and Michael Johnston will be assessed. Diego Laxalt joined from AC Milan before the transfer deadline earlier this month and is in line to feature in some capacity. 

Things are a little more clear cut for Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, who must make do without injured duo Nikola Katic and Joe Aribo. Katic is yet to feature for the Gers this season, so his absence isn't a huge blow, while Aribo has been sidelined since mid-August. Celtic weren't the only side to do deadline day dealings, with Bongani Zungu, on loan from Amiens, tipped to make the matchday squad for the first time following his arrival. 

Probable XIs 

Celtic (3412) - Barkas; Jullien, Duffy, Ajer; Frimpong, Brown, McGregor, Taylor; Ntcham; Griffiths, Ajeti

Rangers (4321) - McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Barisic; Jack, Davis, Kamara; Arfield, Kent; Morelos

Key Battle - Albian Ajeti vs Alfredo Morelos

In the potential absence of Odsonne Edouard, there is ample pressure on Albian Ajeti to fire Celtic to victory here. The former West Ham man, though, has made a stunning start to life for Neil Lennon's side, scoring five and assisting one in just 238 minutes of league action. Only Kevin Nisbit (6) has scored more league goals than Ajeti this season, and the Swiss star can continue to endear himself to Celtic fans with another strike this weekend.

After a solid 2019/20 campaign, where he scored 12 league goals, Alredo Morelos has struggled to rediscover his goalscoring touch. The hot headed frontman was linked with a move to Lille over the summer, and speculation over his future may have impacted his form. The 24-year-old has just three goals to his name this season and has hit the back of the net in just two of his eight league outings. Sent off in Rangers' last two league visits to Celtic, Morelos will look to make the headlines for all the right reasons this time around.

Prediction: Celtic 1-1 Rangers