Celtic vs Rangers LIVE: 3-0 rout as it happened, goal highlights and reaction

That’s goodbye from us

Thanks for joining us for another live match blog – we’ll be back with more after the international.

Celtic’s next match is at home to Hearts on Saturday, September 14th. That’s just days ahead of the Champions League opener against Slovan Bratislava too!

Nicolas Kuhn and Callum McGregor interview

The duo were on hand to give their thoughts on the game after the full-time whistle.

Brendan Rodgers on Celtic’s big win

The manager told Sky Sports: “Offensively I thought we were so exciting going forward. We got three goals. The goal that was disallowed was brilliantly worked and so, so tight.

“I thought the speed in our game, the way we attacked the space was exceptional. We maybe could have had a few more. We made it really difficult for the opposition and the crowd played their part today as well. Overall, a fantastic result and performance.

“Some of our play was absolutely outstanding. Once we got the first goal you could see everything grow and develop from there. We never want to rest on 2-0, we want to get three, four, five and it could’ve been that.

“There always has to be more. Our pressing has been really good and it was again today. There are other aspects we will analyse where will improve. It’s so early in the season and there’s a lot more growth to come.”

Reaction to follow

With Celtic Park in party mode we’ll have all the reaction from both camps over the coming hours, so more updates will follow.

Brendan Rodgers’ incredible derby record

The Celtic manager has now lost just once in 19 matches against Rangers.

He gets the job done.

Damage limitation

Philippe Clement is simply trying to stop the goals from raining in now with a triple Rangers substitution. This one is done.

We’re well into the final ten minutes and Celtic Park is rocking.

Kasper Schmeichel called into action

The Danish goalkeeper hasn’t had much to do today, or this season, but James Tavernier lashes an effort at goal and Schmeichel gets down well to stop it.

James Forrest hits Celtic milestone

Long-serving winger James Forrest is introduced into the match for his 500th appearance in all competitions for Celtic, he replaces the just-booked Nicolas Kuhn.

Forrest gets a fantastic reception from the home crowd.

Nicolas Kuhn booked

The Celtic attacker is booked for pulling back Jefte. John Beaton has been liberal with the cards today.

Jack Butland forced into save

Alistair Johnston fires in a devilish low cross that deflects off of Robin Propper and the Rangers goalkeeper is forced into a stop to prevent another goal.

Cyriel Dessers lands himself in the book for dissent.

Tom Lawrence is also cautioned for smashing into Engels.

CHANCE CELTIC!

Here we go, then. As if by magic Celtic show signs of life again.

Reo Hatate beautifully finds Kyogo Furuhashi’s run in behind the Rangers defence.

He’s onside and has a glorious chance to make it 3-0 after advancing into the box but his looping shot is wide. That was the chance to kill this contest off.

Slow second half

Celtic have yet to really get going after the interval. It’s nothing like the intense attacking performance of the opening 45 minutes.

It’s a little more patient and controlled.

Rangers substitution

Mohamed Diomande makes way for Tom Lawrence. Diomande was on a booking so it’s of little surprise.

Arne Engels warming up

The record £11m signing is amongst the clutch of substitutes warming up on the side of the pitch. We probably aren’t too far away from changes being made here.

Game not over yet

Rangers remind us again that this match hasn’t been won yet. A couple of raking balls into the box cause problems.

An eventual corner comes to nothing but the visitors have started the second half well.

Celtic get back at it

After another slight scare at the other end, Celtic get themselves up the pitch to put more pressure on the Rangers defence.

There’s a corner and a wicked cross from Paulo Bernardo but Daizen Maeda’s near-post run and flick-on doesn’t result in anything.

Early chance for Rangers

Ross McCausland finds Cyriel Dessers who has a lot of space in the box to get a shot off but it’s a tame effort and Kasper Schmeichel saves comfortably.

Star man

There are a few to shout out after that first half but my special mention goes to Paulo Bernardo.

He had big shoes to fill today in that midfield and has been outstanding in helping control the game and build attacks.

Nicolas Kuhn has also been thrilling to watch alongside Daizen Maeda, Kyogo and Alistair Johnston.

The stats at the interval

Possession: Celtic 57% – 43% Rangers
xG: Celtic 0.92 – 0.50 Rangers
Shots: Celtic 7 – 3 Rangers
Shots on target: Celtic 3 – 1 Rangers
Fouls: Celtic 4 – 5 Rangers
Corners: Celtic 4 – 1 Rangers

CELTIC CHANCE!

Daizen Maeda rampages down the left flank before finding Paulo Bernardo. He twists and turns in the box looking to get a shot off but can’t find the right finish.

Rangers are struggling.

Celtic pile on the problems

Alistair Johnston is again in position to batter in a low cross across the Rangers goal but John Souttar just manages to clear.

Celtic Park is roaring, and Brendan Rodgers’ side are responding. This is fantastic.

Kyogo’s incredible derby run continues

Unbelievably that was Kyogo’s eighth goal in his last ten derby starts. What a return from the fan favourite.

Rangers substitution

Ross McCausland is on for Rabbi Matondo, who had went down with an apparent muscle injury about ten minutes ago.

BIG CELTIC CHANCE!

Celtic start to show their teeth again and have a great opportunity to get ahead.

Another low cross from Alistair Johnston, picked out by Nicolas Kuhn, finds Daizen Maeda but his shot is blocked.

The ball spills out to Reo Hatate who has a glorious opportunity to finish but he can’t find the target. That needed to be put away.

Dujon Sterling is the latest to be booked for taking out Kyogo in the build-up.

Rangers possession

Inevitably, the away side have a period with their foot on the ball. But there aren’t many dangerous attacking forays.

Celtic are disciplined in structure and the press. Clement’s side can’t find a way through at the moment.

More Celtic pressure

Cameron Carter-Vickers of all people is the latest to run at the Rangers defence, sliding the ball wide to Paulo Bernardo whose cross is diverted for a corner. It comes to nothing but things are building again.

Nicolas Kuhn causing Rangers big problems

The German winger has been a thorn in the side of Rangers throughout this first half. He has pace, trickery and a directness they can’t handle.

What a start to the season he has had!

Celtic have them on the ropes

Daizen Maeda is terrorising James Tavernier again but this time the Rangers captain just manages to nick the ball away from him on the run after a direct forward ball.

Celtic looking good now. Very good.

Yellow cards galore

Alistair Johnston and Mohammed Diomande are both booked after Jefte also gets a caution.

Amusingly, Philippe Clement is also reprimanded much to the delight of the home crowd.

Everyone takes a breath

It has been a lightning-quick opening period. I can’t believe we’re only 15 minutes in. The game quietens down a little.

Everyone takes a breath. Celtic are looking to take the sting out of the game and build patient possession.

Incredibly tight offside call

If Nicolas Kuhn was offside it was by millimetres. So close to being a perfect counter-attack goal.

Massive Rangers chance

James Tavernier swings in a tricky cross and Rabbi Matondo is on the end of it. He can’t get it on target. That was a let-off for Celtic.

Celtic pressure

Celtic respond to that Rangers scare by building an excellent attack. After some nice passing and a run from Daizen Maeda, it’s Greg Taylor on the overlap to fire in a tantalising low cross.

No one in the box can get on the end of it – with Maeda closest. That’s more encouraging though.

Early intensity

As you’d expect the players on both teams are properly into this one early. Neither side backing down at the moment. It’s frantic, physical and the game has yet to settle.

The away side are definitely in the faces of Celtic.

Cyriel Dessers had a huge chance in the box but fluffed his shot straight at Kasper Schmeichel. Blown for offside anyway.

The physical stuff starts

Connor Barron is lucky to escape a yellow card with a scything challenge on Kyogo. Celtic’s first real territory in the Rangers half here.

Early pressure on the Celtic defence

Rangers win a free-kick within a minute and Vaclav Cerny sends in a swinging ball that meets a teammate’s head but it’s well over and wide.

You’ll Never Walk Alone

Stunning scenes as usual as the home crowd serenades the huddled players with the iconic anthem.

Everyone’s right up for this one.

The teams emerge

Celtic and Rangers take the field to a wall of noise and singing as The Celtic Song blares out as usual.

No away fans today, 60,000, all Celtic – ready to back the team. They must stay with the players throughout the 90 minutes even if it’s a cagey affair.

Joe Hart is home

The big goalkeeper is back at Celtic Park to take in today’s big game! He was spotted in the tunnel welcoming the team in from their warm-up.

Excitement rises at Celtic Park

The teams are up the tunnel. The excitement, noise and colour is building. We’re expecting the usual pre-match tifo displays, the roar and encouragement of 60,000 souls and that traditional huddle.

Brendan Rodgers interview

The manager has been speaking to Celtic TV as kick-off against Rangers approaches.

Celtic top scorers so far this season

Nicolas Kuhn – 3
Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda – 2
Anthony Ralston, Liam Scales, Alistair Johnston – 1

A lot of firepower in the team to add to that today.

Warm welcomes

The teams are out for their warm-ups and Rangers got a healthy booing from early-arriving Celtic fans as you’d expect in this derby.

The McGregor factor

Pundits of both a Celtic and Rangers persuasion have been talking up Callum McGregor’s influence in advance of this one and that reputation is earned.

The Bhoys captain has the ability to control the game today. If Rangers don’t have a plan for him then he’ll get a grip on the midfield battle and the away side will struggle.

In support of Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo, McGregor will be key to setting the tone and tempo of the match. You’d back him to come out on top – as he has done many times before.

Brendan Rodgers pre-match

The Bhoys boss told BBC Radio Scotland: “That’s the message. We just need to go and be us today. Obviously these games are iconic and great occasions to be involved in but ultimately we want to perform well.

“The club have done great in terms of ins and outs. We’ve had to move people on so there’s been a lot of work going on over a number of months.

“If you look at our squad and the bench that we’ve had and featured in so many games, we needed to strengthen it and I feel we’ve done that.

“That’s a big applause to the club for getting the work done and we’ve brought in some fantastic players who can help us over the course of the season.

“They’re still finding out how we work, and the system and all the intricacies. I’m very happy to be able to bring that depth to the squad, it’s some fantastic players we’ve brought in and they’re going to really be able to help us.”

Philippe Clement is a fan of Arne Engels

The Rangers manager told BBC Radio Scotland pre-match: “I know Arne really well because when I was the manager at Club Brugge he was only 17, he trained several times with us and played some friendly games. So I’ve known him a long time.

“He’s a good signing for them. He’s a boy with a lot of potential, a lot of running capacity and good technical skills.”

What Luke McCowan is capable of

Luke McCowan already has three goals and six assists in eight matches for Dundee this season.

Added to ten goals and five assists across last term it’s easy to see what kind of impact he can make.

Match fitness isn’t an issue so he could be let loose as the game develops.

Celtic fans on today’s match squad

“That’s an absolutely stunning bench.”

“That bench my god. What a difference.”

“Been a long time since we’ve had as strong a bench as this. Good cover everywhere.”

“Happy with that, that’s the team I would’ve gone with. Also good to see our bench looking stronger than it did last week.”

“That bench is worth more than their squad.”

An array of comments from social media platform X. The strength of the bench is the talk of the town. Rodgers will look to utilise it well in the second half.

Kyogo Furuhashi record vs Rangers

Played: 14
Goals: 7
Wins: 8
Draws: 3
Losses: 3

The Japanese star loves this fixture. Everyone at Celtic Park is hoping he can again show why he’s the best attacking talent in the country.

Confirmed Rangers team

Starting XI – Butland, Tavernier, Propper, Souttar, Jefte, Sterling, Barron, Diomande, Matondo, Cerny, Dessers.

Substitutes – Kelly, Lawrence, Kasanwirjo, Balogun, Igamane, Raskin, McCausland, Fraser, Danilo.

Not long now

The confirmed team line-ups are less than ten minutes away. There’ll be an 11:15am announcement and we’ll have it right here.

Buzzing Luke McCowan

What a joy it was to see a beaming Luke McCowan come out of the Celtic Park tunnel in green and white on Friday night.

The lifelong Bhoys fan is living the dream and has been speaking about his interaction with Brendan Rodgers since confirming his late transfer move from Dundee.

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Bullish Clement

It’s fair to say the Rangers manager hasn’t been shy in talking up his team ahead of today – as is his right.

He said this weekend: “I don’t care what people are saying because I know how close we were to Celtic last season. In those games, it was only a matter of details. But it’s about proving that on the pitch.

“I don’t like the word underdog, I never want to be an underdog. I’ve never felt like an underdog in my career. I played with the national team against much better countries and never felt that way. So I don’t need that. I don’t need the opinion of other people to work hard or make things better.”

We’ll soon find out whether people have been right to make Celtic heavy favourites for this one. And just how close they are to us.

Celtic vs Rangers in 2023/24

Sept 23rd, Premiership – Rangers 0-1 Celtic
Dec 30th, Premiership – Celtic 2-1 Rangers
Apr 7th, Premiership – Rangers 3-3 Celtic
May 11th, Premiership – Celtic 2-1 Rangers
May 25th, Scottish Cup – Celtic 1-0 Rangers

Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice in the derby last term, as did Adam Idah. It’ll be very interesting to see who Rodgers goes with today.

Celtic debuts today?

Arne Engels had a full pre-season with Augsburg and has already been making Bundesliga appearances so match fitness isn’t a concern.

However, it seems unlikely that Rodgers will through a new signing straight into the line-up without much training time with his teammates.

It’d be great to see the new record £11m signing on the bench, however. If the situation is right then a potential debut in the second half isn’t far-fetched.

The same goes for Luke McCowan. Auston Trusty may have to wait for his big chance given that stability is preferred in the heart of defence.

Brendan Rodgers press conference

Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media on Friday about the game and the summer so far.

He fielded a lot of transfer questions too with Celtic going on to sign Auston Trusty, Arne Engels and Luke McCowan later that day.

You can watch it all below.

Brendan Rodgers warns against ‘dangerous thinking’

The manager said ahead of this fixture: “We always expect the challenge. People can sometimes assume that when you’re doing well and everything’s going great that you’ll just turn up and win. That’s a very dangerous way to think and that’s why at Celtic we never, ever do that.

“We are in a really, really good place as a team, from a football perspective, the level we’re playing at with and without the ball is really pleasing. But we come into these games and these are different games, these are emotional games. But how we’ve always tried to handle these is to focus on our performance.

“So the players have prepared really well all this week and, Rangers will come in, and, like I said, it will be a tough game.”

Match prediction

I’m going to put my neck on the line and say this one is a confident, convincing win for Celtic.

In terms of scoreline, I guess my heart and head are pushing for a 3-0 – but you never really know for sure how these games will pan out.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d take a nervy last-minute 1-0 win but there’s a chance for Celtic to really make a statement today.

The players and staff won’t be taking anything for granted. This isn’t an easy game to turn up and win – they’ll have to fight for everything, but we have the tools and experience to get the job done, and in style.

How to watch Celtic vs Rangers

Today’s match is live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football in the UK & Ireland.

Celtic TV will also be providing live coverage to global subscribers outside of the region.

As you can imagine, dozens of broadcasters around the world are showing the fixture including CBS Sports Network in the USA and beIN Sports 3 in Australia. The game will also be on Disney+ across South America and DAZN in countries throughout Europe. A full list of global channels can be found via LiveSoccerTV.

BBC Radio Scotland will also be providing live audio commentary.

Welcome to Celtic vs Rangers

Hello, good morning! I’m John McGinley and I’ll be taking you through all the ups and downs of derby day.

Yes, what you’re feeling right now is that familiar bubble of pre-match excitement, with a tinge of nerves.

Not that Celtic have too much to be nervous about. The Bhoys are favourites for this one and rightly so.

But the derby is a unique beast and the high-stakes nature of it all never fails to put me on edge.

We’re expecting the confirmed line-ups in around an hour, but there’s plenty to keep you up to date with before then so strap in!