Celtic go into the game against Kilmarnock today knowing that they must take all three points back to Glasgow to oust Aberdeen from the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
The 3pm kick-off sees Celtic head to Rugby Park to hopefully pick off where they left off in the season opener when Brendan Rodgers’s team hammered Kilmarnock 4-0 at Celtic Park.
With Celtic’s win over RB Leipzig taking a lot out of the players, Rodgers has named his team to try and get the vital win before the international break kicks in next week.
- Celtic starting XI: Schemiechel, Trusty, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, Hatate, Kuhn, Maeda, Idah
- Celtic bench: Sinisalo, Kyogo, Valle, McCowan Bernardo, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh
Rodgers has made two changes from the Celtic team that beat RB Leipzig in the Champions League as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kyogo Furuhashi drop out for Liam Scales and Adam Idah.
Celtic fans react to Cameron Carter-Vickers’ omission from Brendan Rodgers’ team vs Kilmarnock
Celtic fans reacted to the news that Cameron Carter-Vickers was dropped with a simple question for Hoops boss, Brendan Rodgers.
Another fan simply asked, “Is the big man injured yet again?” and another added with frustration, “Cameron is really taking my biscuit.”
Another Celtic fan believes there is a simpler reason for Carter-Vickers not making the Rugby Park trip:
And another backed it up by saying, “CCV isn’t injured. It’s the surface.” whilst another predicted, “Is CCV actually injured or is this just a precaution.”
One Celtic fan is happy with one change, “We’re pleased Scales is back!” and another is delighted with the squad, “Happy with that.”
And Celtic supporter another was more philosophical:
In all likelihood, Rodgers simply won’t take a chance on the big American on that plastic pitch and he clearly feels he has enough in his team to get the better of Derek McInnes’ team this afternoon.
Chris Sutton says Kilmarnock ‘don’t fear’ Celtic
Looking ahead to today’s fixture, Chris Sutton believes Kilmarnock are relishing the visit of Celtic and unlike other teams in Scotland, do not fear Brendan Rodgers’ team.
Sutton told Sky Sports Scotland, “Look, I think Kilmarnock will finish in the top six. I think they have the quality within their team and they have a game plan.
“They understand the instructions and they’ll try to stop Celtic in the middle of the park. They’ll be direct, Watkins is fit, he’s a runner and a good athlete and he will try to unsettle the Celtic backline.
“But as I say, they will relish this challenge. There are a lot of teams in Scotland who fear playing Celtic, Kilmarnock are not one of those.”
Celtic’s last five results against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership
Celtic have enjoyed near-total domination over Kilmarnock over recent times at Rugby Park.
So with that in mind, here are the last five results Celtic have picked up at Rugby Park including the title-clinching hammering of Derek McInnes’ team:
- 15.05.2024: Kilmarnock 0 v 5 Celtic. Goals from Adam Idah, Daizen Maeda, James Forrest and a double from Matt O’Riley clinched the title.
- 10.12.2023: Kilmarnock 2 v 1 Celtic. Kilmarnock battled back from 1-0 down to claim all three points.
- 16.04.2023: Kilmarnock 1 v 4 Celtic. Goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and another Matt O’Riley double sunk Derek McInnes’ team for Celtic.
- 14.08.2022: Kilmarnock 0 v 5 Celtic. The Hoops were rampant with Kyogo, Jota, Moritz Jenz, Carl Starfelt and Giorgos Giakoumakis all getting in on the goalscoring action.
- 02.02.2021: Kilmarnock 0 v 4 Celtic. Another trouncing of the Rugby Park side as Scott Brown, Albian Ajeti and an Odsonne Edouard sealed an easy win for the Hoops.
Four wins out of five, 19 goals scored and just three conceded makes a good omen for Celtic this afternoon although after the Champions League exertions of Tuesday night, most fans would probably be happy with a simple 1-0 win to take three points back up the road to Celtic Park.
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