Today’s a tough one for Celtic, as everyone well knows.
The Bhoys haven’t won away to Livingston since they returned to the top-flight four years ago. Brendan Rodgers, Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou have failed in West Lothian
But the Australian has the chance of redemption today. In all honesty, it’s needed.
With Rangers breathing down our neck at the top of the table, a victory restores a 3-point cushion in the Scottish Premiership and proves that Celtic ‘shall not be moved’.
But what kind of XI will the manager go with today? Here’s our best shot…
We know Joe Hart will be in goal, he’s not moving unless he picks up an injury or Celtic sign a new goalkeeper. The position is his.
In defence, I think our strongest four will start – that’s Josip Juranovic, Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor. For me, there’s not much argument for moving away from the status quo here.
The midfield is where I think things could get interesting. Postecoglou talked up Nir Bitton‘s impact off the bench against St Mirren on Wednesday night and I think he has a shot of coming into the team.
That allows Callum McGregor to move a bit further forward alongside Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate or Tom Rogic. It’s the latter I’ve gone for owing to his ability to unpick tight defences and his experience of Scottish football. Today is very much going to be a ‘Scottish football’ battle.
I’m hankering for McGregor to be pushed forward a little and be given more attacking responsibility at this crucial time. I think he could have the composure we need and that we haven’t seen from the likes of O’Riley and Hatate in recent matches.
With Jota and Abada on the wings, I reckon that leaves Ange with his other big call today – who to start in attack?
While Daizen Maeda has been nowhere near as bad as some critics have suggested, I do think the Celtic support wants to see Giorgos Giakoumakis come back into the team today. He’s available again after illness.
The Greek has got the physical presence in that box we’ll need against David Martindale’s outfit. Maeda does a great job pressing goalkeepers and defenders. But I want the Greek in the heart of that attack to find the space necessary to stick the ball in the back of the net.
Let’s get it done Celtic.
Your predicted XI in full is: Hart, Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, Bitton, McGregor, Rogic, Abada, Jota, Giakoumakis.
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