Celtic is back on track to win and take first place at Christmas

Celtic bounced back from successive defeats to beat Livingston 2-0 and make certain they will be pinnacle of the Scottish Premiership on Christmas Day.

Brendan Rodgers’ side had considered Rangers shut to inside two points after they suffered back-to-back defeats towards Kilmarnock and Hearts.

But second-half dreams from Kyogo Furuhashi and Liam Scales ensured the Hoops will remain top even if Rangers win at Motherwell on Christmas Eve.

Rock-bottom Livingston annoyed the hosts in a goalless first half, but Furuhashi made the step forward in the first minute of the second period.

Scales headed in a 2d from Luis Palma’s pass five minutes later.

Lawrence Shankland scored twice as Hearts took cost in the war for 0.33 with a 2-0 win over St Mirren.

Shankland headed home in the first half of earlier than lashing domestic his 15th aim of the season from the part of the place four minutes after half-time.

The victory moved the Jambos three points clear of St Mirren, who have gained simply one of their closing six matches.

In-form Kilmarnock moved above the Buddies into fourth through beating St Johnstone 2-1 with desires from David Watson and Marley Watkins in the opening 17 minutes. Substitute Nicky Clark pulled one again for the visitors.

Hibernian’s trip to Ross County and Dundee towards Aberdeen were both postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

Jordan Pickford picks the actual largest derby in Britain, while the Everton star downplays the significance of the Celtic vs. Rangers match

The England wide variety one insists that the largest conflict in Britain is coming up south of the border.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford has insisted that Sunderland vs Newcastle United is the largest derby in the country over the upcoming Celtic and Rangers showdown.

The Glasgow giants will face off at Celtic Park to spherical off 2023 – with top spot in the Scottish Premiership set to be up for grabs with Brendan Rodgers’ men stuttering in their defence of the crown while Philippe Clement has the Ibrox aspect flying as he stays unbeaten seeing that replacing Michael Beale in the dugout. And notwithstanding the enormous fixture taking Scottish soccer into the New Year, Pickford has his eyes on some other clash.

Eddie Howe will take his English Premier League facet to the Stadium of Light on January 6 for an FA Cup blockbuster – with diehard Black Cats’ fan Pickford insisting that the fixtures it the biggest derby face off in Britain. The final Tyne-Wear derby was once all the way returned in 2016 and requested about the fixture by using beIN Sports the Everton and England range one grew to become hype man for the fixture.

Asked by how much the clash means, Pickford responded: “Personally in the usa I don’t think there is a larger derby. I think it is on a par with Celtic vs Rangers.

“For me it is one of the biggest derbies, environment wise. It’s a amazing day out. For me the environment is right up there.”

Rodgers and Clement want the same Portuguese striker for January, and Celtic and Rangers are “at the front of the race” for him

Celtic are set to do fighting with Rangers once again, this time for the signing of Fabio Silva from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That’s according to O Jogo, who say the Old Firm duo are both eager on the striker as he looks to leave Molineux in the January transfer window, with Parkhead and Ibrox plausible destinations for him.

The newspaper reports that Silva is ‘preparing to depart Wolves’ when the market reopens and it appears he will be directed closer to Scottish football, the place Celtic and Rangers both have their eye on him.

The 21-year-old has another unnamed Spanish facet interested in him too, however the two Scottish teams, currently first and 2nd in the table are ‘at the front of the race’ according to O Jogo’s information.

Silva wants to go away again after barely proposing under Gary O’Neil this season and repeat the success he loved out on loan with Anderlecht and then PSV Eindhoven.

It is that which has presumably attracted Celtic and Rangers as they seem to bolster their squads for Brendan Rodgers and Philippe Clement.

Both sides aren’t entirely quick of options, with Celtic having Kyogo Furuhashi, Hyeon-gyu Oh and Johnny Kenny as striker selections while Rangers have Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, Kemar Roofe and Sam Lammers at their disposal, but actually see Silva as a step up on what they’ve got.

With simply two factors separating Celtic in first from Rangers in second, it’ll show to be a hard desire for Silva to make, need to they be the ones he has to pick out between as O Jogo suggest.

“I’m going to make a public statement.” Pundit believes Celtic man regrets ever joining the team

With Celtic apparently going thru a difficult spell at the moment, pundit, Ewan Cameron, believes all is no longer well behing the scenes at Parkhead.

After watching Brendan Rodgers‘ submit match interview, Cameron seen something odd about the Celtic manager and made a claim that Rodgers regrets coming again to Paradise.

Cameron stated [The Big Scottish Football Podcast], “Brendan Rodgers didn’t seem to be like he cared either. He stated he variety of anticipated it. Or it didn’t surprise him.

“I think there’s probable a combat going on behind the scenes politically. I’m additionally going to throw some thing out there.

“I suppose Brendan Rodgers these days regrets coming back. He regrets coming back. Everything about it.
“He wasn’t fully accepted when he walked via the doors. The Celtic fans had been ready to soar down his throat.

“And that’s what’s taking place proper now. And then Brendan Rodgers is now deflecting and hinting that these are no longer my players. This is now not who I favor to be playing.

“There’s Lagerbielke, they spent £3 million for him in the summer, apparently he’s up for sale in January.
“So I suppose there’s there’s a wee bit of infighting at the back of the scenes.”

Rodgers’ demeanour was once strange. Considering this was a manager who was, apparently, definitely livid with his team’s first half perfomance towards St Johnstone, the way the Celtic manager reacted after a meek home defeat in opposition to Hearts just doesn’t sit down right.

Despite bieng very honest about how the team performed, the followers would have been waiting for an agrier response from the Celtic manager.

The Celtic followers certainly made their feelings actually clear on Saturday and it seems now that Rodgers must make sure he alternatives up six factors from his subsequent two games.

With one of them being Rangers, the stress is definitely on the Celtic manager to beat his closest rival because if he doesn’t the fans will need to look at the league table over the New Year with Rangers sitting on top.

Nat Phillips, who had a bad loan experience, is returning to Liverpool

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips will return to Merseyside in January. The centre back has been up at Celtic in view that the summer season window, presenting aid to Brendan Rodgers’ backline amidst an injury crisis.

However, The Record reports that Phillips will return to his dad or mum club, citing lack of first team action.

Since arriving from Anfield, Phillips has made eight appearances and was once terrible in his cameo towards Hibs as properly as being at fault versus Killie. The huge defender has come in in spite of now not enjoying a lot of video games and has not impressed.

It is predicted that upon return to Anfield, the Englishman will be sent out on mortgage once more to get first group football.

However, Brendan Rodgers has been full of praise for the 26-year-old due to his commitment in training. The Irishman has utilised Phillips as his 1/3 defender in the back of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales. With Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke struggling to be concerned in suit day squads, Phillips departure would hopefully improve their efforts in education as they look to get into the first team.

‘A long while’: Pat Bonner reacts to Celtic fans chanting’sack the board’ during the team’s loss against Hearts

You have to say, the reaction from the Celtic followers at some point of the defeat in opposition to Hearts on Saturday used to be something that has been bubbling up for a while.

It was solely ultimate week that the gamers had been nonetheless unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership, only to suffer a deserved loss to Kilmarnock.

What has been most annoying about Celtic’s performances below Brendan Rodgers has been the lack of chew and speed in the team’s play.

Some point closer to the Celtic board and why greater cash hasn’t been spent on proven stars to take the membership forward.

But, when fans started to get restless the day gone by and chants of ‘sack the board’ have been ringing round Parkhed, Pat Bonner disagreed with it all, as he told BBC Radio Scotland (16/12/23).

The Bhoys legend referred to that he ‘didn’t like to see’ the fans arguing amongst themselves, which sparked in the 2nd half.

At 2-0 down, any other poor displaying from the team, and no response after the break, the followers were solely going to react in one way. And you can’t blame them!

But Pat Bonner was also keen to mention that the group is still sitting pinnacle of the Scottish Premiership table.

Celtic fans chant ‘sack the board’

“I suppose somebody is having a go at the Celtic board,” said Bonner as the crowd began to get restless.

Then when the first rounds of ‘sack the board’ chants went round the ground: “They are still in a role (to win the league). It’s nevertheless too early.

“It has been a whilst in view that I have viewed that response – we lost a lot of focal point there round the game. I have obtained to say, thinking about Celtic are nonetheless top of the league – I don’t like to see the followers arguing amongst themselves.”

Celtic v Livingston

There is now going to be huge, large strain on the players against Livingston subsequent Saturday.

You feel that the team have to get out of the traps from the get-go, or else, the players will sense strain like never before.

Three games remain earlier than the year is out – Livingston, away at Dundee and then Rangers.

Just win those matches, and whilst it doesn’t alternate much, it does add a feel-good component returned into the membership due to the fact it is truly needed right now.

Despite Rangers’ comeback under Clement, the Celtic icon is still confident in the title contest

The former Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers boss is tipping his historical club to raise the Scottish Premiership title again.

After a massive week in European football and a cup remaining taking location this Sunday, now not to mention various key Premiership fixtures for both sides, it is perhaps easy to overlook the first Old Firm derby is quickly approaching.

Celtic and Rangers will go head-to-head at Celtic Park in their remaining fixture of 2023 on December 30 in a in shape that, as ever, is possibly to have huge ramifications on the title race. The Hoops currently have a 5 factor lead over their Glasgow opponents however Philippe Clement’s guys do have a game in hand.

Last weekend’s defeat to Kilmarnock for the reigning champions, mixed with the fact that the Gers have not misplaced a healthy since the Frenchman’s arrival, has many predicting a title race that could go the distance. However, on Celtic legend remains assured that his ancient membership will as soon as again go on and raise the trophy at the stop of the season.

Paul Lambert used to be talking to Betway and believes that the Hoops are still very tons ‘favourites’ to win the league. He said: “It’ll be very hard to claw the title-fight again if they lose the subsequent Old Firm game. This will be Phillipe Clement’s first trip of the Old Firm, whereas Brendan and the Celtic gamers know all about it.

“There will additionally be a ban on Rangers followers – some thing it’s crazy to me as followers are such a huge part of the rivalry. We saw the equal element happen at Ibrox returned in May – and I assume that was once terrible, too.

“Clement is strolling into a recreation the place his global ride means nothing. This sport is specific from any different because of what it stands for. If Celtic win, I suppose they’re in the drivers’ seat. If Rangers get a result, then the title race will be back on. However, I still suppose Celtic are favourites as they’re at home.”

‘He isn’t going anywhere’: John Hartson identifies a Celtic player who is here to stay

Callum McGregor has been Mr Reliable and Mr Consistent in Celtic colorations for a variety of years now.

That fresh-faced teenager, who went on-loan to Notts County in 2013 and performed alongside Jack Grealish, is now proudly the Celtic captain and guiding the crew to trophy after trophy.

After 443 appearances for Celtic in all competitions, John Hartson thinks these numbers will accelerate even similarly and he will end his career at Parkhead, as he told Go Radio.

At the age of 30, this is Callum McGregor at the top of his powers.

There is no purpose for him to pass somewhere else due to the fact he is playing his excellent football, the captain of his boyhood club, enjoying in Europe’s elite opposition and prevailing trophies galore.

And even as ‘nothing surprises’ John Hartson in the game, in regards to players transferring at any time, he is certain about Callum McGregor.

Callum McGregor’s Celtic career

“The one players you seem at inside this Celtic side,” stated Hartson. “You seem to be at McGregor. He is a stay, he isn’t going anywhere, in my opinion.

“He is in there. He is captain. Celtic via and through. He has been here all his career. I would assume anybody like that would end his career at Celtic.

Important few weeks for Celtic

That win over Feyenoord was once crucial, not simply because it stops talk of Celtic being winless in Europe, however it was also a first-rate response from the weekend.

But heading towards that Rangers recreation on December 30, the crew have a number of huge games coming up, beginning with Hearts at the weekend.

Yes, the unbeaten streak is over in the Scottish Premiership. But if that draw with Motherwell, first-half displaying against St Johnstone and defeat in opposition to Kilmarnock is the worst of it, then carry the rest of it on.

Wretched bastards! John Hartson responds angrily to his television detractors

Other than placing the ball in the net John Hartson appreciated nothing higher than a precise 50-50 undertaking on the park- or a 40-60 to make it interesting.

He revelled in the physical challenges, a £2m teenage signing at Arsenal, scoring in a European ultimate at the age of 20 and up towards the odds almost every time that he pulled on the red jersey of Wales. He cherished it.

In retirement, in his thirties he defied the odds in his best ever battle, against cancer. Looking at him these days you’d by no means think about what he went thru in the summer season of 2009.

Some keyboard warriors are effortless meat for massive John, if people don’t like his enthusiasm for working on Celtic Champions League suits that is their problem. He ain’t going to exchange his style for a seat on the Sportscene sofa.

Late on Wednesday night large John put is thoughts collectively alternatively well interior one tweet.

Been doin co comms for 17years.. 3 major tournaments.. 3 years with 5 live.. 40 games a season. Still people will always look to criticise.. instead of giving praise when your spot on.. World we live in.. sad bastards ! Well played Celtic 👍🏻

— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) December 13, 2023

In distinction to Hartson, Rob MacLean sounded like he had lost out to Rory Hamilton in a draw for a area on the TNT Sport Christmas jolly to Seville.

Other than the tired old Champions League facts that Celtic fans are very familiar with MacLean had nothing to add to last night’s viewing.

While the snipers tip away Hartson has a very full diary as his views are sought on European matches, the EPL and Wales worldwide matches. He also speaks Welsh.

⏱️ 𝟵𝟬+𝟭

Celtic have their first #UCL win at home in over ten years 🙌 pic.twitter.com/D0CUpDH5Mk

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 13, 2023