Celtic will be without stand-in captain Nir Biton for the clash with Rangers after the Israeli international was sent off in the Parkhead side’s win over Dundee United.
The 30-year-old was shown two yellow cards in the second half of Celtic’s 1-0 win over the Arabs as Ange Postecoglou’s side closed the gap to two points ahead of the visit of Rangers.
Rangers had shot themselves in the foot earlier in the day after a series of calamitous errors contributed to all three goals conceded in a 3-3 draw away to Ross County.
Celtic now go into the match with major doubts over several key players including captain Calum McGregor, Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi and Scotland international David Turnbull.
Australian midfielder Tom Rogic is also away on international duty along with Japanese striker Daizen Maeda as all attention now turns to the match with Rangers.
The Gers support are certainly licking their wounds after the weekend’s turn of events and Celtic – with absentees or not – go into the match with solid momentum.
The task for Rangers is now halting that as they prepare to visit Glasgow’s east-end with the Ibrox side unbeaten against Celtic for over two years.
Rangers-linked shot-stopper impresses despite Celtic Park defeat
Rangers are also looking to the future ahead of next season and beyond and the goalkeeping position has come further under the microscope after the weekend’s results.
Ordinarily reliable Rangers legend Allan McGregor had a horror show at Ross County and blundered at two goals to contribute to two dropped points in Dingwall.
Whilst you’d be a brave man to bet against McGregor – 40 this week – proving the difference at Celtic Park, this could well be his last season as Rangers’ #1.
One man who’s been linked to replacing him is Dundee United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist and the Swiss international put in an impressive audition in the defeat at Celtic Park.
Despite conceding late on in the match, Benjamin Siegrist was in inspired form to keep Celtic at bay and pulled off a stunning save with his legs against Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis.
One of the Scottish Premiership’s leading stoppers, the 29-year-old has been linked to Rangers alongside Premier League outfit Southampton.
Whilst Nir Bitton will be out for Celtic at Celtic Park, Rangers aren’t without their own key absences with Alfredo Morelos in particular a massive loss for the Ibrox club.
On international duty with Colombia, the South American nation have come in for criticism from Rangers fans for their handling of the striker this week.
