Key Highlights
- Celtic are three points behind leaders Hearts, while Rangers are three points adrift of their rivals in the Scottish Premiership.
- The last time Celtic and Rangers met in the Scottish Premiership, Brendan Rodgers was at the helm of Celtic, while Russell Martin led Rangers.
- Wilfried Nancy is under pressure as Celtic manager following a poor start to the season, while Danny Röhl’s Rangers are grinding out results but not considered title contenders by some experts.
- Sky Sports’ Chris Sutton and Kris Boyd offer their insights on the upcoming clash between the Old Firm teams.
The Current State of the Scottish Premiership
As we approach Saturday’s match between Celtic and Rangers, the landscape of the Scottish Premiership is quite different from recent seasons. Hearts currently lead the table with three points over Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic, while Danny Röhl’s Rangers are another three points behind their rivals.
The Old Firm’s Recent History
Recalling the last time these two teams met in the Scottish Premiership was not too long ago. At that time, Brendan Rodgers was the manager of Celtic, and Russell Martin led Rangers. Fast forward to today, we see a completely new dynamic on the touchline as Nancy and Röhl prepare to face off against each other for the first time since the 1993/94 season.
Insights from Chris Sutton and Kris Boyd
As former players with deep roots in Scottish football, Sky Sports’ Chris Sutton and Kris Boyd offer their perspectives on this upcoming clash. Their analysis provides a blend of professional insight and personal history, making for an engaging read.
Sutton’s Take: A Hero or Zero?
Sutton acknowledges the pressure Wilfried Nancy is under as he faces Celtic. “There are Celtic fans who still aren’t convinced with him,” Sutton states. However, he believes that a win could shift fan sentiment dramatically in Nancy’s favor. “If he gets a win, then it’ll be ‘we believe in Wilf’. If he loses, it’ll be ‘he’s a dud, get him out.'”
Sutton goes on to analyze the team dynamics: “Wilf-ball is here to stay, he’s gonna play that way.
Celtic will be vulnerable at times. I just think it’s impossible to call.” He also discusses the defensive strategies of both teams and speculates about potential match outcomes.
Boyd’s Perspective on Rangers’ Title Chances
Kris Boyd takes a more skeptical view of Rangers’ title ambitions, despite their recent form. “When I look at Rangers, my issue with the title race talk is, I can still see Hearts and Celtic winning more games than them,” he says. However, Sutton disagrees, emphasizing that the unpredictable nature of this season keeps Rangers in contention.
Sutton adds: “Rangers are still in a title race. They were never out of it because nobody knows what Danny Röhl has up his sleeve in January. Also, another reason why Rangers are still in the title race is because this season is not like previous seasons, where we all expected Celtic to go on a 14-game winning run.”
Upcoming Match Details
Celtic and Rangers will face each other for the Old Firm clash live on Sky Sports from 11:30am. The match kicks off at 12:30pm, with the game scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026.
For fans tuning in, this promises to be an engaging and unpredictable match as both teams navigate their respective challenges and ambitions for the rest of the season. As Sutton and Boyd suggest, every result could shift the dynamics significantly.
