Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has named the starting XI that will take on Rangers in the first Premiership derby of the season.
Nine changes were made in Wednesday's Premier Sports Cup last 16 win at Ross County as key players were rested ahead of this one. Joe Hart returns to the goalkeeping position with Josip Juranovic back in at right-back, and Greg Taylor on the opposite side. Cameron Carter-Vickers is also back in defence.
Callum McGregor anchors the midfield and up front it's a formidable attack of Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota and Liel Abada, with Giorgos Giakoumakis dropped to the bench. Celtic are two points ahead at the top and a win here could put them five ahead in an early title race advantage. Postecoglou said ahead of the match: “Our players have been really good throughout this early period in navigating the fixtures and also our training schedule to make sure we’re ready for what’s ahead.
READ MORE: Rangers placed among top 10 teams in world football by global ranking as Celtic beat Barcelona
Sign up to Glasgow Live newsletter for more headlines straight to your inbox
“We’re looking forward to it and obviously it’s important to focus on the next challenge and the next challenge for us is this and that’s where our focus is."
Celtic XI: Hart, Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, McGregor, O'Riley, Hatate, Abada, Kyogo, Jota.
Subs: Siegrist, Jenz, Giakoumakis, Haksabanovic, Mooy, Turnbull, Maeda, Forrest, Ralston.
READ NEXT:
- Celtic vs Rangers referee named as SFA publish match official appointments list
- Celtic hero Chris Sutton names the one Rangers player he fears ahead of first Old Firm derby
- Rangers B, Celtic B, Queen's Park and Partick Thistle discover SPFL Trust Trophy round three fate
Celtic transfer latest as striker at 'not convinced' Hoops crossroads after being allowed to leave
- Three things we learned as Rangers striker scores goal to remember in comfortable QOTS victory
