All eyes are on Rangers vs Celtic at Ibrox this afternoon.
A 14 point gap has opened up between the two Glasgow rivals going into 2025, and it’s not looking favourable for today’s hosts.
They have dropped points in their last two Scottish Premiership matches and go into this derby clash without their captain, first choice goalkeeper and key defenders.
And Celtic legend Chris Sutton has predicted things to get “ugly” and could lead to a bleak outcome for Philippe Clement’s future should the scoreline not go Rangers’ way.
“Look, it's the depleted Rangers going into the game. They've barely a defender fit, Jack Butland is going to the the game, and it will be backs to the wall. They've got to come out with a ferocious display and just hope that Celtic aren't at their best today.
"It's a 14 point gap, 17 gap, it can't keep being a project at Rangers and going through a transitional period. Maybe Europe has saved them, their performances in Europe have been good.
"Losing the cup final to Celtic and Celtic weren't at their best on that particular day. It was important for him to get a trophy in the bag, but he didn't do that, so the pressure is building.
"You know, essentially it will be the Rangers supporters that get Philippe Clement out, and if their team get dispatched on their own patch by their biggest rivals than I suspect it could be curtains."
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Celtic triumphed on penalties in the Scottish League Cup final last December, a result which Sutton believes summed up Brendan Rodgers' record in the fixture.
"I think Brendan Rodgers' record is ridiculous," he added. "He's lost one in 20 against Rangers. Philippe Clement still hasn't beaten him. It's that mentality.
"I don't think Celtic have been at their absolute best over the last six weeks, two months, but they have found a way to win games and eventually they will hit form.
"People are talking that the title race is over. From Celtic's perspective it's just about that focus, that mentality. They need to come here today and make that gap even bigger."
