Celtic legend Chris Sutton believes Brendan Rodgers has a decision to make as he looks to quell the ‘threat’ of Rangers captain James Tavernier during Saturday’s Old Firm derby clash at Parkhead.
For the first time in quite a while, it appears that we might have a title race worthy of the name this season. A genuine, bonafide, two-horse battle at the top of the table.
Win at the home of the enemy for the first time since October 2020 and Rangers will move to within two points of Celtic, with a game in hand to boot.
10 wins and a draw in their last 11 Premiership games means Philippe Clement’s team are the form side ahead of tomorrow’s short trip across the Glasgow divide, and Sutton wonders if Brendan Rodgers has an ace up his sleeve as he looks to combat the creative influence of the arguably nation’s most dangerous attacking talent.
Celtic host Old Firm rivals Rangers
“Talking of wingers, I sense a dilemma for Rodgers in terms of which sides to deploy (Luis) Palma and Daizen Maeda,” Sutton tells the Daily Record.
“In the past, Maeda has been a real asset on the left in the contest because of the way he hounds James Tavernier.
“The Rangers captain is a major threat from open play with his attacking work. And the Japanese has the running power to stick with him and nullify some of that danger.”
Sutton, however, accepts that if Maeda is chosen on the left, that would deny Celtic the shift-and-shoot talents of Palma, so impressive since joining the Hoops after months of speculation linking the Honduras international with bitter rivals Rangers.
15 goals already for James Tavernier
“If he does switch (Maeda) left to combat that (Tavernier’s quality), Palma’s talent for stepping inside to play deft passes or strike for goal on his favoured right side would be lost,” Sutton sighs.
“It’s going to be a balancing act for Rodgers.”
Tavernier, a full-back lest we forget, has 21 goal contributions to his name already in 2023/24, that acrobatic winner in the Scottish League Cup final the stand-out moment in a stellar campaign. The skipper needs only four more goals to make this the most prolific season of his career.
