Celtic derby latest: Gerrard has a big dilemma that will be familiar to Lennon

By Euan Davidson

December 31, 2020

Ahead of the Glasgow Derby, Celtic face opposition with a selection headache in midfield.

Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack are missing for Rangers, while Ianis Hagi has been in good form for Gerrard’s side. This leaves the Liverpool legend choosing between sentiment and form.

This sounds a bit familiar, does it not? I’m not going to accuse Gerrard of outright patter theft, you understand. However, his quotes could’ve been Neil Lennon’s, with some names changed.

Steven Gerrard at Celtic Park / (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Gerrard has choices to make against in-form Celtic

Speaking to Rangers TV, and no you don’t need to click that link, Gerrard said:

“Ianis [Hagi] has come back into the team and he’s contributing really well. I’ve got some big decisions to make for the weekend but that’s where I want to be.

“People are pushing for places and that’s the way it is. But I’ll pick a team that I think can do the job against Celtic. I can’t really go on who scored in the last game or who’s on form.

“I need to pick a team that’s going to do the job against Celtic and there’ll be no sentiment. It’ll be the team that I think can get us the three points.”

Rangers can use any of Glen Kamara, Bongani Zungu, Steven Davis or Joe Aribo in central positions on Saturday (Transfermarkt). Further ahead, Hagi seems an obvious choice as a number 10.

I hate to say it, I really do, but Steven Gerrard has built a very decent squad south of the Clyde. From having to play Danny Wilson, Martyn Waghorn and Andy Halliday, the Gers have genuinely impressive options across the park.

With Arfield and Jack missing, however, Celtic fans can go into Saturday’s crunch tie with some optimism. Celtic’s own midfield are all guns blazing, and the real debate is over whether Scott Brown should start.

It’s a huge game with plenty of intrigue. All of a sudden, we cannot wait.