Scotland now know their Euro qualifying fate so, are we making it under our own steam or will we need that Nations League play-off?
KEITH JACKSON: The play-off certainly feels like a very comforting safety net now that we have Spain and Erling Haaland to deal with. But second spot in Group Aaarg can still be a realistic target for Steve Clarke and the boys.
DAVID McCARTHY: Tough, but possible. Spain should skoosh it but Norway, apart from the obvious, are no great shakes and there are potential banana skins in Georgia and Cyprus. But second place is there to be taken.
ANDY NEWPORT: That play-off spot is looking pretty handy now. Spain may be in a transitional phase but they still have bags of quality and I’d rather not think about what Haaland is going to do to our defence.
MICHAEL GANNON: It’s a pretty stinky section to be honest after pulling the best player on the planet out of pot three. But anything is possible under Steve Clarke so we have to keep the faith.
Our clubs are back in Europe again in midweek. How will Celtic, Rangers and Hearts fare?
KEITH: Badly. Of the three, Celtic have the best chance of taking something from RB Leipzig. But having been outclassed last week in Germany they’ll have to come up with something special to avoid another defeat. It looks like being another damaging week.
DAVID: Let's face it, results have been grim but I think Celtic can win at home to Leipzig and if Rangers, with that Ibrox crowd behind them, play to their max they might just get a point against Liverpool. Hearts were outclassed by Fiorentina at Tynecastle and I can't see them getting anything in Italy.
ANDY: Both halves of the Old Firm have home advantage but I can’t see that doing much to turn around last week’s results against Leipzig and Liverpool. And Hearts will just have to hope they can keep the score down in Florence.
MICHAEL: It might be hide behind the couch time again. Our sides are finding it hard going amongst the big boys and it won’t get any easier. Celtic might be the best hope of a positive result and even a draw would do.
Talking of Rangers, has Fashion Sakala knocked Ryan Kent out of the team to face Liverpool with his performance against St Mirren?
KEITH: No. But he may have done enough to play his way into the starting line up all the same. With Kent on the left and Sakala on the right, Rangers might at least give Liverpool’s defence something to think about.
DAVID: Sakala showed in his late cameo at Anfield that he has the pace to ask questions and he played well on Saturday, but I reckon van Bronckhorst will stick with Kent in the hope that he can produce something special.
ANDY: No but it should act as a wake-up call for the winger. Sakala provided a goal and an assist and that’s the type of contribution they need more of from Kent. But I can’t see GVB dispensing with one his most experienced European campaigners for a game of this size.
MICHAEL: Kent is the better player but he’s not producing the goods and Sakala deserves his chance. Rangers could do with some pace on the break against Liverpool, so it might a decent shout to chuck him in.
Callum McGregor will be out of the Celtic team until after the World Cup. How will they cope?
KEITH: With considerable difficulty. McGregor’s importance to this team is almost impossible to overestimate. The early evidence from Perth at the weekend suggests the system doesn’t function properly without him. He’s almost impossible to replace.
DAVID: With difficulty because there's not a team in Scotland who wouldn't miss McGregor and although Celtic won on Saturday, they weren't convincing. Domestically, there is a enough quality in that squad to see them through but they'll be desperate to get their captain back.
ANDY: It’s a blow given just how influential the Parkhead skipper is but they still have Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and Oliver Abildgaard who can all dictate play in the centre of the park. Defensively it might leave them a little more exposed, especially in Europe.
MICHAEL: With great difficulty. McGregor is irreplaceable but some of the others, such as Oliver Abildgaard will need to step up.
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