da bet7： Today’s massive derby clash between Celtic and Rangers, in truth, may not be that important in terms of league position at the end of the season.
da jogodeouro： The Bhoys are romping ahead at the top of the table, leaving everyone in their wake. Still, a second place finish would represent a decent season for Mark Warburton’s men after promotion from the Championship.
While not a crunch clash in terms of the title race, it’s still vitally important. These games always are.
For Rangers, the match is about pride, it’s about showing they can still be a force in Scottish football and it’s about giving their loyal supporters the day of their lives by causing an upset against the Hoops.
It’s true that Celtic hold the form and have the best team on paper, but these derbies are often a leveller, a unique 90 minutes that stand on their own.
Gers fans will always believe they can get the better of their city rivals no matter how big ‘the gap’ is between the two sides.
So, who should Mark Warburton deploy?
This is our XI that we think, on their day, could pull off a massive upset against Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic…
GK: Wes Foderingham
Foderingham has helped Rangers to seven clean sheets this season and can often be the difference between picking up points and a defeat.
The former Swindon man is one of the Gers’ most reliable players but could be in for a busy afternoon considering the attacking threat that Celtic offer.
Can he produce the performance of his life and keep the Bhoys to nil?
CB: Danny Wilson
Wilson hasn’t played as much as he’d like this season but has returned to the first-team fold more regularly over the last month, which helped the Gers to a four-game winning streak before dropping points at St. Johnstone on Wednesday night.
We see Wilson as part of a back three, not a shape we’ve seen often from Mark Warburton but one used to decent effect against the Saints. If not for an error, the Gers would have come away from that one with a victory, too.
CB: Clint Hill
Hill hobbled off with an injury against St Johnstone but is in with a chance of recovering ahead of the visit of Celtic. If he’s fit, he should play at the heart of the Light Blues’ defence.
Rangers’ most experienced player, he’s had a tough shift against Celtic already this season but offers their best chance of securing a result against the Bhoys.
The 38-year-old is in the latter stages of his career but these are the occasions he lives for and has every chance of raising his game to match the threat of Rodgers’ men.
CB: Rob Kiernan
Kiernan made a bad mistake on Wednesday night which led to St Johnstone’s equaliser but we’re expecting Warburton to keep his faith in the centre-back and start him again today.
A light pass back to Foderingham gifted the chance for Steven Maclean to make it 1-1, which was the difference between Rangers and all three points.
Fans will be hoping the former Irish youth international can put that behind him and help hold the Gers’ defensive line.
RWB: James Tavernier
Tavernier is one of Rangers’ most effective players on his day, offering genuine width and the ability to impact on games both defensively and offensively.
Rangers’ best chance of victory at Ibrox is if they bring the game to the visitors and Tavernier will be key to that. Putting him slightly further forward right-hand side and giving him the responsibility to get at the Celtic defence could end up pulling his entire team up the pitch.
He’ll be up against Emilio Izaguirre and may fancy his chances of exposing the Honduran left-back.
CM: Josh Windass
Deploying a three man central midfield could go a long way to winning that battle. Having an extra man in there to stifle the likes of Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong will allow Rangers’ goal threats to get at Celtic’s final third.
Windass was in fine goalscoring form for Accrington Stanley last season but has failed to replicate that at Rangers, scoring just one goal in Scotland so far, which came on his debut.
Can he kick-start his Rangers career with a massive performance on derby day?
CM: Andy Halliday
Halliday is the beating heart of this Rangers side and if they’re to get anything from the match against Celtic, they’ll need him to turn up at his best.
On his day he can dominate most midfields in Scotland, but he faces the toughest test once again today in having to deal with the likes of Scott Brown.
That’ll be a very intriguing battle with both players always putting everything on the line for their clubs.
CM: Jason Holt
Like Halliday, Holt has been almost ever-present in the Rangers midfield this season.
The midfield area is likely where this match will be won and lost so along with Halliday and Windass, the former Hearts man is one of the Gers’ key players.
He has the energy required to make bursting runs into the final third and should be looking to exploit the central areas, running off the likes of Windass and supporting Rangers’ front two.
Can he get on the scoresheet for a second time this season?
LWB: Barrie McKay
McKay is a match-winner and has previous of getting one over on Celtic. His incredible drive in the Scottish Cup semi-final last season helped his side to a penalty-kick win over the Parkhead club.
McKay is one of the Gers’ in-form players, netting twice in December to win some vital points for Mark Warburton’s men.
Can he offer a repeat of his finest moment in a Rangers shirt and finally end Celtic’s unbeaten run?
ST: Kenny Miller
Kenny Miller is a vital part of this Rangers team despite being 37-years-old. The Rangers icon has scored over 100 goals for the Ibrox club in three spells and has a habit of netting against his former side Celtic.
He scored in that semi-final last season and also contributed massively to the goal that gave them a glimmer of hope at Celtic Park earlier in the season.
He has the ability to apply the finishing touch and if the Gers are to get a victory, Miller is likely to be involved in any goals scored.
ST: Joe Garner
Joe Garner has become a cult figure at Ibrox after Rangers fans tried to get a song which inspired a fans chant about the striker to No.1 in the official UK charts this Christmas.
That effort didn’t quite pan out but created a week of good fun for Gers fans and they’ll be hoping their support for the former Preston North End man transfers onto the pitch.
The striker has just three goals this season and is struggling to capture the form that made him a favourite at the Championship club.
One of those did come against Celtic, though, and if there’s one way to kick-start your career in Glasgow, it’s scoring in the biggest derby on these shores.