History is certainly not on Rangers’ side ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm derby clash with Celtic at Ibrox.
Philippe Clement’s side have won only one of their last nine meetings with their green-and-white clad neighbours. Even this season, Rangers raising their game post-Mick Beale while Celtic fall short of the sky-high standards set during the Ange Postecoglou era, the reigning Premiership champions have triumphed twice, including during September’s previous meeting at Ibrox.
Hoops icon John Hartson, however, fears that Celtic’s fine track record in recent Old Firm derbies will count for little if Rangers can get their press right and their defensive line in the correct place, squeezing a brittle Celtic side high up the pitch and forcing turnovers.
Rodgers’ side have already dropped points against Aberdeen, Hearts and Kilmarnock since the turn of the year, after all, and could be without their captain, their best passer, and their most influential player in Callum McGregor.
The skipper is facing a race against time as he looks to recover from injury ahead of a potential title-decider.
Rangers are ‘slight favourites’ for Old Firm derby
“I think both teams will want to start fast,” Hartson tells Go Radio. “Put their stamp on the game, keep the ball and frustrate the opposition. We know that Celtic keep the ball very well.
“That is part of their game with (Matt) O’Riley and (Reo) Hatate, and obviously whether it is (Tomoki) Iwata or if Callum McGregor makes it to start the game.”
Hartson, a three-time Scottish Premiership champion, is not exactly confident of a Celtic victory. He believes that Rodgers’ team would be better served sacrificing possession and using their speed on the counter, though whether they can spring those rapid-fire attacks against a side who like to push their full-backs high and wide remains to be seen.
“I think Rangers will have the edge because it is home advantage and there is not one single Celtic fan in there,” adds Harton, who sees the veteran duo of James Tavernier and Borna Barisic as likely key players.
Full-backs integral to Philippe Clement gameplan
“Whether that puts an extra bit of pressure on them or if Celtic can just play free and make it an open game, but I do think the way Rangers can get at Celtic is that high press; Keeping a high line and obviously the crowd will be getting behind them.
“At times, Celtic will need to defend very well and break. I think they will look to play on the counter-attack. Cameron Carter-Vickers is key to that but also the widemen in Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn. They are both rapid.
“Tavernier and Barisic will want to push them back towards their own goal. This is a game for big players. Top players stand out and normally make the difference. Rangers have got a couple and Celtic have them.
“It is so difficult to call. The only reason I say Rangers for me are slight favourites is because of the home advantage.”
Captain fantastic Tavernier missed a penalty during Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Hibernian but put that right with a fizzing volley later in that same half, the right-back taking his tally to a staggering – and career-best – 22 goals for the season.
The out-of-contract Barisic, meanwhile, is likely to start with Ridvan Yilmaz an injury doubt.
