Kris Boyd shuts down Celtic ‘damaging’ Scotland claim, as Paul Merson expresses Rangers shock

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Everyone is talking about it, as Celtic and Rangers gear up to lock horns on Sunday.

No matter what is or isn’t on the line, the Glasgow derby is always explosive and built to be one of the best derbies in world football.

Yes, Brendan Rodgers is about to guide Celtic to another Premiership title, but that doesn’t mean there will be anything less riding on this fixture.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	29	24	3	2	87	17	70	75
2	RangersRangers	29	18	5	6	59	26	33	59
3	HibernianHibernian	30	11	11	8	45	41	4	44
4	AberdeenAberdeen	30	12	7	11	38	46	-8	43

To add extra spice to proceedings, Rangers will have Barry Ferguson in the dugout after he came in until the end of the season when Philippe Clement was sacked last month.

Celtic will want to send him along his way, as the derby match was discussed by Paul Merson and Kris Boyd, with a few interesting topics brought up.

• READ MORE: Celtic backed to make two changes in midfield amid possible Callum McGregor injury vs Rangers

Kris Boyd responds to suggestion of Celtic’s dominance harming Scottish football

Other than that one title under Steven Gerrard, it has been pure dominance from Celtic on the domestic stage for over a decade now, and that is set to continue.

From Rodgers’ first spell to his return, another Treble in Scotland is on the cards for the Irishman.

But it was suggested by Sky Sports presenter, Simon Thomas, that Celtic dominating at the top is ‘damaging’ for the game in Scotland.

All of this was shut down by Boyd, before Merson expressed his shock at the one time Rangers did win the league, it came with a 25-point margin, as he told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (15/03/25 at 13:05 pm).

“I can flip it back and say that it’s exactly the same in the English Premier League right now,” said Boyd. “That’s where we are at. I think because it’s Scotland and there are two teams.

On it not being that way season in and season out in England: “It might not be,” added Boyd. “But you only need to go back a couple of years when Rangers did win the league and you felt they could have kicked on from there. It wasn’t the case.”

Merson then interrupted: “How did that happen? 25 points. Rangers and Celtic. I mean Celtic had won it, how many times on the trot before that? Nine! And they won it by 25 points. Wow. That’s unbelievable.”

Boyd added: “In other countries, it can be more difficult because of the amount of better teams there are, but these two teams are always going to challenge at the top.”

Paul Merson on Parkhead and Ibrox factor for Celtic and Rangers

Only Bayern Munich in the Champions League have won at Celtic Park this season, with Aberdeen being the only side to score in the league.

That’s how the Hoops have brushed aside their opponents on home soil and, even after the Ibrox horror show after the turn of the year, normal service has resumed.

Merson discussed Celtic and Rangers’ record post that game, as well as their overall records at home, as Boyd gave Rodgers’ side their flowers for dealing with the pressure week in and week out.

“Any other league in the world and that isn’t too bad,” responded Merson on Rangers picking up five less points than Celtic since the win at Ibrox.

“It’s not too bad. If you went and beat someone, then the next ten games it’s five points (gap), but that five points is huge because they dominate most of their other games. In the Premier League, anybody beats anybody.”

Boyd continued: “In the league, it’s identical. Celtic have beaten Rangers 3-0 at Celtic Park. Rangers have beaten 3-0 at Ibrox. It’s Rangers’ problem against the rest. Celtic are consistent against the rest. They have a level of performance.

Merson asks ‘why is that’ and Boyd added: “Because they have better players. They have better players to win games of football. They have a consistency there. It’s not easy.

“You have been there when you are winning league titles. Having to do it, week in and week out, under the pressure. You have to give Celtic enormous credit for doing it season after season. Keep going, going and going.”

Merson then stated: “Is there a thing now, when other teams go to Celtic Park, they know they are getting beaten. But when they go to Ibrox, ‘oh, we have a chance’.”