Video: England’s top player names Rangers and Celtic as the standard for rivalries in the UK

England and Everton Number One, Jordan Pickford, has named Celtic and Rangers as the benchmark for Derby fits in the UK. Pickford, who is a boyhood Sunderland fan, was once requested to preview their upcoming suit with Newcastle United and tested that he would be there.

Speaking to beIN Sports, Pickford said that it’s up there with Celtic versus Rangers in phrases of Derby games.

“It’s up there with Celtic vs Rangers”

Sunderland fan Jordan Pickford says he will be at the Tyne-Wear derby and tells @carriebrowntv why its such a big match.#beINPL #EFC #SAFC #NUFC pic.twitter.com/SgnNrVilTo

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 22, 2023

Celtic and Rangers will meet on the thirtieth December at Celtic Park in what is an eye watering fixture, in particular given the ramifications for the league.

Alan Forrest of Hearts has some bright ideas for the new year and a funny gift idea for his Celtic brother James Forrest

Hearts winger aiming to maintain the festive spirit alive towards St Mirren

Alan Forrest’s brother James had a front row seat as Hearts ended Celtic’s proud 52-game unbeaten league run at Celtic Park closing weekend. But, in case his sibling has blanked out the key moments, the Gorgie attacker joked that he may additionally also supply a recording of the suit to present him for his Christmas.

“Yeah, I would possibly get that one sorted,” Forrest laughed, admitting that the mood in the Hearts camp stays high following the club’s first victory over the reigning Premiership champions on their own turf in 14 years. It was once additionally a enormous second for the Forrest brothers. “I’ve played against them a few times and been on the cease of heavy defeats and, you know, if they rating early then they can hurt you all over. I was once delighted to get the end result That’s the first time I’ve beaten Celtic as a participant so I was delighted with that. It’s normally him beating me. To be fair he took it well and said that we form of deserved it. We have been having a bit of banter after the game however it used to be pleasant that he was comfortable for me and that he obtained to watch me play and it was gorgeous for us to get the result.”

While the younger brother was given a beginning berth, the Celtic stalwart watched the first 71 minutes of the match from the bench. By the time he entered the fray, Hearts had installed their 2-0 lead and Kenneth Vargas had replaced Alan. “Off the back of that end result the location is buzzing,” endured Forrest, “and I idea we deserved it as well. We had a game diagram and each participant carried it out. If you’re going to locations like that you want all and sundry at it and I think all and sundry was. When you’re taking part in against Celtic, you can work on it throughout the week but you comprehend they have exquisite gamers that can hurt you so maybe you need to trip your good fortune at instances as well, which we did. But I suppose we had been quite cozy in the sport and the area was once buzzing, specifically after the end result the week before.”

That was once when the Tynecastle outfit misplaced to Aberdeen and, in a tightly-contested league that reminded them just how large every end result can prove to the standings. Which is why, having re-established themselves in 0.33 spot and with video games coming thick and speedy over the festive period, Forrest needs the capital membership to push ahead and produce results succesful of backing up as an alternative than undermining that Parkhead win, beginning in Saturday’s third-v-fourth domestic Premiership clash with St Mirren. “We have 4 video games coming up in two weeks,” stated Forrest. “Celtic is a difficult area to go so it’s a bonus getting that end result however it stands us in true stead now for the next four games.”

That relentless pursuit of victories is some thing he has watched James and Celtic adhere to at some stage in their extra than decade-long dominance of the Scottish scene, backing up wins with extra wins. “This is one where we have a difficult aspect in St Mirren, who have done clearly well, and are on the equal points as us,” stated the Hearts player, who has been utilised as a winger and wingback but thrived in a more advanced function as Lawrence Shankland’s strike accomplice ultimate weekend. “They are right with us in the table so simply due to the fact we have had a result like that, you can’t take your foot off the gas. You don’t underestimate them due to the fact we know their strengths but we recognize that this is one, alongside with the three coming after, are the place we want to kick on rather than take a step back.”

Looking to take time at some point of the iciness wreck to consider just how positively the season is progressing, manager Steven Naismith knows that the displays and the results of the following four matches will go a long way to influencing the conclusion to those musings. “I’ll appear ahead to the begin of the new 12 months when you will have a desirable idea of how you can consider the first half of of the season,” he said. “We are in a suitable location at the moment, and these are 4 video games where we can do some clearly accurate work. I believe we will. I’m searching forward to that.

“The video games that we’ve obtained coming up, the cause why they are good, is they are towards teams that have had appropriate begins to the season, and have finished so far. If we win them we will be in a right function and we will also have affected people round about us. That’s it. We’ve seen so some distance how one end result can swing things. As the season goes that stretches. We do not underestimate any of the games but we will be going into each and every one of them attempting to win them, it truly is one factor for sure, whether or not they are domestic or away. We recognize that if we put some absolutely tough work in now it makes everything a lot better after the break.”

Heading into the break, having used this spell to exert some authority would only aid the squad mentally, minimising the psychological torture at some point of the shutdown, and giving them some thing to maintain onto and shield after the motion resumes, in accordance to Forrest. “It is massive [the notion of going into the ruin clear in 1/3 place] because we have two or three weeks off, and things will be going thru your head and you’ll be searching at the table. You will experience the damage higher if you are in third, on a first rate amount of points, getting as shut to second location as you can. In that way, you can see you are nearer to the place we favor to be instead than the games no longer going properly and we are looking up at third. Everyone desires to be at it and get most points if we can.” Fuelled by that triumph over Celtic, they trust they can

Report: Celtic is vying to sign a player for £35 million who has sobbed on the field this year

With Celtic searching to add some serious fine to their ranks in January, it doesn’t get any extra serious than this.

Brendan Rodgers has constantly bemoaned the fact his crew are lacking excellent and with Kyogo Furuhashi clearly struggling to find goals, it seems the Celtic manager has flip to the English Premier League to solve his striking ills.

A record from Ojogo has claimed that Celtic are main the race to sign Portuguese striker, Fabio Silva.

The 21-year-old used to be signed by way of Wolves for over £35m [BBC] in 2020 but after a disastrous two seasons at Molineaux, the youngster is stated to be looking to cross on.

The report claims, “Fábio Silva is making ready to go away Wolverhampton when the market reopens and the striker’s future have to go thru Scottish football, where he is disputed via Celtic and Rangers.”

Fabio Silva’s Wolves woes

The younger striker has discovered it difficult to live up to his rate tag as he has only scored five dreams in 72 appearances for Wolves. [Transfermarkt]

Clearly struggling, the final straw for Silva was when he ‘conceded’ a penalty in the demise minutes towards Sheffield United remaining month.

With the sport poised at 1-1 and Wolves nevertheless unbeaten, the teen challenged George Balldock in the penalty box. It regarded like no contact was once made as The Blades striker was once already on his way down.

The penalty was once awarded and backed up by means of VAR, and Wolves misplaced the game and their unbeaten start to the season.

Silva used to be inconsolable on the pitch and this regarded to be the icing on a very bitter cake as the youngster’s torrid time at the membership continued.

His confidence have to be shot to pieces and perhaps a cross to Celtic ought to do him the world of good. With the quantity of chances Celtic creates, Silva might also fancy rebuilding his career and self assurance in Paradise.

A loan deal is extra in all likelihood if a go used to be ever to take place as Celtic could now not have enough money to pay the kind of outlay that Wolves did on the striker.

And with his income at £42k per week [SalarySport], Celtic ought to cowl that quantity easily. This is one we will watch closely as the January window nears.

CCV Asks Football Fans And Teammates To Avoid The “Emotional” Side Of The Game

Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon against Hearts. His presence, though, couldn’t forestall a 2-0 loss to the Jambos.

Post-match, the American admitted his teammates and the followers need to stay away from the emotive aspect of the game: “The emotion is understandable”, he stated (Football Scotland). “When you lose a recreation that’s how we sense as players and that’s how the fans feel as well. But there is no factor searching at a game in an emotional state. You’ve acquired to seem at it clear-headed, continue to be as calm as you can and try to improve.”

For followers who invest their lives into the club, it is challenging not to get impassioned. Celtic supporters care about the soccer club to a great extent and demand the best.

Because of this, matters can also inevitably turn sour at Parkhead when the Hoops do not win games they have to be taking all three points from.

The players, though, will stay calm, in accordance to Carter-Vickers. Despite this, there is no doubt that their performances and effects need to get better quickly, starting in opposition to Livingston this weekend.

“Careful what you wish for” by Neil Lennon Celtic issues a warning to enraged supporters

Neil Lennon has warned furious Celtic supporters be “careful what they wish for”.

The former Celtic boss defended the Parkhead hierarchy as he spoke back to the poisonous surroundings that brewed at some stage in the loss to Hearts.

Supporters have been left indignant as dreams from Lawrence Shankland and Stephen Kingsley condemned Celtic to defeat.

Chants of ‘sack the board’ and ‘Lawwell get to f***’ were then heard interior the stadium as tempers flared.

However, Lennon recommended there is no want for any overreaction in spite of the team performing under expectations on a handful of events so some distance this season.

On PLZ Soccer, Lennon explained: “I do not assume there may be any need to panic. You look at the record and it is the first time in ten years they’ve lost back-to-back video games and the first time they’ve misplaced at home in fifty two It’s a truely excessive bar and information are there to be broken.

“But you have to say the level of overall performance isn’t what we expect from Celtic at the minute so they’re going to have to dig deep and galvanise each person around. The fans need to see that the group is going thru a bit of adversity and this is when the team and the manager need their support, rather than the other way around.

“I know there was some dissent towards the board, which I do not understand due to the fact they’ve just won a Treble closing year. Since Dermot’s come in it is been whole domination for 20 strange years; six Trebles, Europa Leagues, three remaining 16s, I should go on.

“So from time to time you’ve got obtained to be cautious what you wish for. But at the minute, it’s now not good. There’s a lack of consistency and I assume Brendan’s waiting for the January switch window. Currently, he has to roll up his sleeves and get more out of this team.”

‘A very strong possibility,’ Celtic will sign competition for the 26-year-old in January, according to Stephen McGowan

With much less than two weeks for the January switch window to open, Stephen McGowan believes Celtic are about to make a good sized move.

The Daily Mail journalist used to be asked what he concept about Celtic strengthening this iciness when he claimed that they could be about to sing a participant to give Greg Taylor some much-needed competition.

McGowan said [PLZ Soccer], “I assume they will.  I mean I think the Portuguese guy, Tiago Araujo who performs for Estoril who is a former Benfica player, I suppose he’s a very sturdy opportunity for Celtic in January.

“He’s a left wing-back, he can get forward whether he can shield is a question of course, but I suspect that’s one that may happen.”

TBR Celtic told how there used to be a feeling that Celtic should be about to replace Alexandro Bernabei in January as the Argentine has failed to make any form of impact on the crew due to the fact his £3.75m pass ultimate summer.

However, I would propose that if Celtic have been to attempt and signal Araujo, it would be with a view to becoming a normal starter for Brendan Rodgers.

Much has been made of the fact that the left flank of Celtic was uncovered in Europe and in the Scottish Premiership and Rodgers would do well to tackle that alternatively than later.

Tiago Araujo for Celtic?

The Portuguese fullback is 22 years ancient and has two caps for the u21 team. A product of the Benfica adolescence system, he made simply one look for the first team.

A short spell at Arouca allowed Araujo to make a in addition 16 first-team outings earlier than he secured a everlasting move to Estoril.

In two seasons at the club, the versatile full-back who can additionally play as a winger, has made 49 appearances scoring three goals and growing 4 assisting his team to a contemporary mid-table function in the league. [Transfermarkt]

Is he the player that could Celtic forward? A lot about this go screams every other undertaking however I’m hoping this is one that Rodgers has identified as one who ought to instantly improve what Celtic already have at the club.

“Absolutely frightening”: Pundit is astonished by the term “exceptional.” £14k per week Celtic star

Celtic have a wide variety of gamers who have actual actual pleasant about them. Callum McGregor is one name that springs to idea as does Kyogo Furuhashi.

But there is one that has truly caught the eye of pundit, Leanne Crichton. After the 23-year-old’s overall performance towards Feyenoord, Crichton used to be in entire awe of Matt O’Riley as he had a helping hand in Gustaf Lagerbielke’s 90th-minute winner.

Crichton stated [The Go Radio Football Show], “I want to say, Matt O’Riley, certainly frightening. The levels, the performances that he’s producing right now are absolutely outstanding.

“He’s a pleasure to watch. The moments of magic that he’s produced in games of late has been exceptional.”

O’Riley has been receiving lots of plaudits for his performances this season. His transformation under Brendan Rodgers has been outstanding to watch.

Don’t get me wrong, under Ange Postecoglou, O’Riley was once extraordinary but he seems to have elevated so a whole lot beneath Rodgers and added so a lot more to his game.

Adding goals, the Danish global has grow to be one of Celtic’s most risky players. His vision and passing potential also make him an necessary section of the Hoops attack.

Defensively, O’Riley also places in a shift. He tracks back, makes tackles and covers each and every blade of grass as he helps out the Celtic returned four.

He clearly is a laptop in the coronary heart of the Celtic team and it is little marvel he is attracting the attention of the likes of Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Crystal Palace.

But with O’Riley signing a new five-year deal in the summer, it is clear that he is joyful and content material at Celtic.

And why wouldn’t he be? He’s enjoying regularly, triumphing trophies and getting to play Champions League football. Also, he is being paid as an alternative handsomely for the privilege at £14k per week. [SalarySport]

“Not a very happy man.” A reporter for the BBC saw what Arne Slot did just before the Celtic-Feyenoord match

From Diego Simeone to Arne Slot. There have been a few unhappy campers in Celtic’s opposition dugout in the Champions League this season.

Celtic deservedly secured a 2-1 win over Feyenoord in the Champions League on Wednesday, however it got here with Arne Slot’s annoyance.

It appears as although the Feyenoord educate was steaming before his team conceded a penalty, which likely didn’t assist matters.

Luis Palma opened the scoring for Celtic, with the aid of the penalty spot, when Liam Scales used to be wrestled down in the area.

According to a BBC reporter, Arne Slot was once in ‘deep conversation’ with the fourth official and complaining about one element or another.

Then the penalty used to be awarded and it used to be brought that Arne Slot was ‘not a completely happy man’, as a end result of it all.

In the end, Celtic sealed the points, and unlike a certain Diego Simeone, he did shake Brendan Rodgers’ hands after the match.

Feyenoord boss Arne Slot

“Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is now not a completely satisfied man,” said a BBC reporter.

“Moments before the penalty award he was deep in dialog with the fourth professional complaining about something, then came the penalty award and that virtually didn’t help his mood.”

Celtic ease the pressure

At least there will be no speak of Celtic’s winless run in Europe from other parts of the media now.

It will probably turn into ‘Only one win in…’. from next season!

On a serious note, beforehand of the Champions League altering its format, this win came at the right time and it simply sparks some faith back into the system.

The alternate of layout in the Champions League, from an basic perspective, wasn’t probable needed due to the fact don’t fix something that’s now not broken.

But, hopefully, this bodes nicely for Celtic in the long run and the wins in Europe can begin staking up.

‘Outstanding’: Now, Neil Lennon reveals his pick for Celtic’s Player of the Season thus far

One element Celtic’s win over Feyenoord seems to have executed is to have lit a hearth below the Celtic player’s backsides.

Every single one of them was once exceptional throughout the total ninety minutes at Celtic Park and each single one of them have to keep their heads high.

But only one of them absolutely impressed former Celtic boss Neil Lennon. The Irishman used to be speaking after the game and recalling Matt O’Riley‘s role in the winning goal, Lennon stated that he is the first-rate player in Scotland proper now.

Lennon said [TNT Sports], “Has been unbelievable this season. I suppose that’s his 1/3 help now in the campaign.

“Domestically he has been scoring each week in the Premier League.

“Goals and assists he has been the most tremendous player for Celtic this year and possibly the excellent participant in Scotland this season.

“That used to be a piece of class. That used to be actual proper first-rate there.”

There is no denying that O’Riley is a one of a kind talent. The Celtic midfielder has been exceptional for Brendan Rodgers now not solely on the home scene but also in Europe.

Against Atletico Madrid, O’Riley was named the Man of the Match as he helped reap a creditable draw in opposition to the La Liga side. And closing night time against Feyenoord, his performance was once truly flawless.

His desires and assists throughout all competitions have kept Celtic as the team to watch in the league and Scottish Cup this season.

With another three games to go until the New Year, the Celtic followers will be hoping that O’Riley can continue his top notch form and hold Celtic rooted firmly at the top of the league.

Now that Europe is over, O’Riley can listen on domestic enterprise as he appears to assist Celtic win their 0.33 league title in a row.

‘Different to what I’m used to’: Feyenoord great reveals he had trouble with the £4 million Celtic star

Feyenoord defender Thomas Beelen admits he struggled with the movement of Kyogo Furuhashi at some stage in Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Celtic.

Despite The Hoops celebrating their first win in Europe’s premiere club competition in 15 attempts, it used to be any other night of frustration for Celtic’s talismanic centre-forward.

Kyogo Furuhashi has now scored just once in his last eleven games, Brendan Rodgers struggling to get the equal tune out of the Japan international after two years orchestrating Ange Postecoglou’s Parkhead symphony.

But still, Beelen will have been thrilled to see the returned of Furuhashi, the forward’s movement as sharp as ever even if his finishing stays rather wayward.

Celtic beat Feyenoord in Champions League

“He made a few appropriate runs, which was once specific from what I am used to,” Beelen tells RTL7, Celtic. I had to get used to it, however I obtained better and better in the match.”

Celtic triumphed 2-1 on the night. The roar which greeted Gustaf Lagerbielke’s stoppage time winner proving that this used to be anything however a ‘dead rubber’ for these on the Parkhead terraces, even if Celtic were already consigned to bottom vicinity in the group.

“How am I (feeling) standing here? With an unpleasant feeling, because we have won,” Beelen adds. “Personally, it was once a satisfactory moment for me (to play away at Celtic).

“But I don’t feel that way now.”

This was Celtic’s ultimate European game of the season, their fourth-place end that means that the Glasgow giants do no longer even have the consolation prize of Europa League soccer after Christmas.

Rodgers, meanwhile, is keen to simplify Kyogo’s game, encouraging the £4 million signing from Vissel Kobe to avoid losing deep and as a substitute center of attention on finding pockets of house in and around the penalty box.

Rodgers desires greater from Kyogo Furuhashi

“We went via his video stuff the different week. We looked in particular at the truth I don’t need him losing in so much. When you’re enjoying in a lot of games where teams are sat deep, you don’t get a kick of the ball actually until it comes into the box,” Rodgers tells the Daily Record.

“So what do you do? You begin wandering. His power is his penetration. That’s his strength, running in in the back of and timing his runs. You have to make 10 runs possibly to solely get in once, however that’s your job as a striker.

“So there’s been nothing modified in that. There’s been truly nothing exclusive asked of him because his energy is enjoying off the final line, timing his movements and being instinctive in the box.

“He’s no longer a dribbler, he’s not any one who does drop in. He can do it however it’s now not his strength. And that’s always the undertaking for a striker who wishes to affect games. But he’s very receptive. He’s not a baby, remember, he’s 28 years of age.”

‘Exceptional’: Joleon Lescott stunned with £1 million Celtic player in tonight’s victory over Feyenoord

It lookedl ike any other night of so shut but, yet again, so a long way for Celtic in the Champions League tonight.

Once again Brendan Rodgers‘ side’s incapacity to preserve the backdoor shut in the closing stages of a European recreation regarded like it was going to come returned and chunk them on the backside.

1-0 up and searching comfortable, Celtic allowed the Dutch side to get lower back into the recreation as Hyeongyu Oh was bullied off the ball in midfield and Alistair Johnston was dragged out of role which allowed Yankuba Minteh to slot domestic an 82nd-minute equaliser to leave Joe Hart helpless.

Which is a shame due to the fact if every person deserved to be on the winning side, it was once the £1m signing from Tottenham Hotspur. And he was after Gustaf Lagerbielke nodded home the point-blank winner in the 90th minute.

Hart pulled off some fundamental saves to preserve Celtic beforehand last night and he significantly impressed former England international defender, Joleon Lescott.

Joe Hart redeems himself for Celtic vs Feyenoord

The English stopper has come under some extreme criticism over the previous few weeks but he definitely redeemed himself with his performance tonight.

Lescott stated [TNT Sports], “Arguably this would have been one of the pleasant dreams of the competition so a ways but just offside. Probably ought to do better with the offside in phrases of searching throughout the line and looking ahead to the place the centre-backs are.

“He [Luis Giminez] can’t make his run off the fullback due to the fact he’s at the back of him however a steady threat strolling behind and he’s any individual that’s has been cozy in front of goal but Joe Hart’s been exceptional.”

Despite conceding, Hart made three important saves at integral stages of the sport which ought to have seen the result go some other way.

Hart was once extremely good and deserves all the plaudits coming his way for this performance.

“You have to do more” James McFadden responds to Brendan Rodgers’ public comments about Celtic star

James McFadden has weighed in on the situation involving Celtic winger, Mikey Johnston.

Brendan Rodgers took an fascinating step in deciding to publicly critique the player after Celtic’s 4-1 win over Hibernian ultimate week.

Someone like Chris Sutton was ’surprised’ by the Celtic manager’s methods, whilst others suppose it’s in reality a challenge.

As James McFadden pointed out, the truth that Mikey Johnston began the 2-1 defeat towards Kilmarnock on Sunday proves that Brendan Rodgers is actually trying to push the player, as he told Sky Sports Football (10/12/23 at 11:40 am).

The former Scotland global introduced that Mikey Johnston is being requested to do more with and barring the ball due to the fact it’s some distance exclusive than when he is being requested when he comes off the bench.

The 24-year-old has commenced only two games this season and likely hasn’t produced the results he would have preferred from a non-public perspective.

There have been instances this season when he has come off the bench, including in the Champions League and he has seemed impressive.

But as James McFadden pointed out, they are two distinctive worlds.

Brendan Rodgers’ venture to Mikey Johnston

“I’d rather not have any criticism, if I am being flawlessly honest,” stated McFadden.

“What Brendan Rodgers is doing Is telling Mikey Johnston that coming on as a sub is specific to beginning the game.

“When you come on, the sport is open and you have the freedom to do what it takes to get your group back in the recreation or have an impact in the game. When you begin the game, it is greater about concentrating on your positional play. When you are going to press. What the needs are.

“I assume had Rodgers had a go at him, then dropped him it would have been a bigger problem here. What he is saying, you are in the crew now and you have to do more. You have to use the ball better. Make better decisions.”

Celtic v Feyenoord

The difficulty for Johnston now is that he will probable be dropped for Wednesday’s Champions League clash towards Feyenoord.

And that will likely then lead to him being in the equal state of affairs in opposition to Hearts at the weekend.

On one hand, his performances haven’t been properly enough, but he ought to rightfully argue that he wishes greater minutes to surely get his engine going because he is nonetheless probable lacking that sharpness.

Johnston’s problem is that he has had plenty of probabilities earlier than and in the pressure cooker of Celtic, you ain’t given a great deal time.