Despite Rangers’ return to the top flight of Scottish football, Celtic, the famous rivals, did not encounter many difficulties in clinching a domestic treble last season maintaining an incredible unbeaten status. Brendan Rodgers, the Hoops boss, is now closing on to secure another ‘treble’ this term but will have to beat past the Light Blues tomorrow when these two age-old rivals will lock horns in an epic Scottish Cup semi-final tie at Hampden Park.
Rangers have significantly struggled versus the Bhoys in recent years but need to alter the obvious to salvage something from another season of mediocrity.
Team News
Rodgers, the Parkhead boss, had multiple injury concerns throughout the season but is now content with the options he got as he will have the entire squad to select from except Nir Bitton and Jonny Hayes who are ruled out for the campaign with season-ending injuries.
Formation (4-2-3-1)
Although Rodgers has switched his formations pretty often to cope up with the injuries and suspension, the former Liverpool gaffer is likely to field the Hoops in a 4-2-3-1 pattern on Sunday afternoon.
Goalkeeper
Scott Bain, the third-choice custodian, was Celtic’s hero last month in the Old Firm derby but might lose his place to veteran Craig Gordon who is back from his injury and likely to be fit for the semifinal tie.
Defence
Rodgers has experimented with his backline pretty often and switched to a ‘back four’ from a three-man defence and vice versa. It is still unclear what he will be unfolding tomorrow at Hampden Park but a ‘back four’ is likely to be fielded with veteran Mikael Lustig and young Kieran Tierney occupying the fullback roles. Jack Hendry is ineligible having already featured in the competition with Dundee earlier this campaign.
Marvin Compper is not in Rodgers’ plans so is Jozo Simunovic who was shambolic and sent off versus the Gers at Ibrox and the gaffer has preferred other central defensive options ever since. Dedryck Boyata is slowly getting back to his best in an injury-riddled campaign and likely to be partnered alongside teenage sensation Kristoffer Ajer in the heart of Hoops backline.
Midfield
Scott Brown, the Celtic skipper, will keep his place in a usual deeper midfield role. Olivier Ntcham has been pretty consistent all season and might be preferred over Stuart Armstrong in central midfield. Tom Rogic, the Socceroos star, scored spectacularly against Rangers in their last month’s meeting and might be recalled in action to slot in an attacking midfield role.
Although the boss has plenty of wide options to select from, we might see Scott Sinclair and James Forrest getting nods over Charlie Musonda, Callum McGregor, and Patrick Roberts to feature on the flanks.
Forward
Rodgers will have another selection quandary upfront as he will have to choose only one among Moussa Dembele, Odsonne Edouard, and Leigh Griffiths to lead the line. Griffiths, now back from a calf injury, scored his side’s winning goal against Hamilton Academical last week, hence, might be handed a start against their great rivals in the prestigious Scottish cup semifinal tie.
This is how the Hoops might be lined up tomorrow at Hampden Park in another exciting Old Firm derby:
