OPEN GOAL podcast host Si Ferry reckons Celtic are the big favourites for the Scottish Premiership title following their opening day win over Aberdeen.
Ange Postecoglou's Hoops snatched the title from rivals Rangers last term in the Aussie's first campaign as boss.
Celtic have strengthened further this window and Ferry believes his former side will again top Giovanni van Bronckhorst's Rangers.
He said: "Celtic are already the team to beat and I think they'll win the league. Aberdeen did very well to keep the score at 1-0 at the weekend.
"I think Ange Postecoglou is very clear on what he wants. He's had a year in the job now and everyone can see his style - compared to the first game of last season it's like night and day.
"This season, Ange has got the squad that he wants and kept the core of his team whilst adding a couple that he wanted as well.
"Rangers have lost their two best players in Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo, but they have signed well. Tom Lawrence is a really good player but you never know how people will react to playing for Celtic and Rangers - they could be good players elsewhere but when you play in Scotland the pressure is completely different to anywhere else.
"I would make Celtic favourites for the league purely because they've been able to keep hold of their best players."
Ferry says the permanent signing of Cameron Carter-Vickers will be a huge boost for the Hoops this season.
He continued: "The best signing Celtic have made is Cameron Carter-Vickers - he was a necessity. If you look at the way Celtic play, it's very attacking and they leave two-vs-two at the back and that's where Carter-Vickers has been really good.
Jota is a great signing though because teams will come to Celtic Park and sit deep and so Celtic need players who can go and take players on and make things happen - Jota can do that."
Si was speaking on behalf of Grosvenor Sport.
