Celtic Predicted XI vs Rangers: O'Neill factor, Tierney call, Maeda

Alistair Johnston is a confirmed absentee as he continues to rehabilitate from his setback against Sturm Graz. There will be late fitness calls on Kieran Tierney, Marcelo Saracchi and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Tierney sat out the mid-week match against Falkirk with a groin strain, while Saracchi wasn't in training on Friday. O'Neill said in his press conference that he hopes both will be available.

On Iheanacho, O'Neill said on Friday he was 'fine' and that a closer look would be taken in training on Saturday.

Will the interim Celtic boss change the winning team that won 4-0 mid-week, and what are the stakes today beyond a place in the Scottish League Cup final, where St Mirren await?

What does Martin O'Neill bring to this fixture?

When Martin O'Neill joined Celtic in the summer of 2000, Rangers were famously the 'benchmark'. By the end of the campaign, Celtic were the kingpins.

O'Neill has been over the derby course and distance before. As a manager, he brings a unique mix of passion, gravitas, charisma, humour and intensity to the fixture.

His first experience of the derby ended in a 6-2 success at Celtic Park, which set a tone as O'Neill quickly proved he had an aura about him and that Celtic did have the belief and winning mentality, as he himself said, 'to go toe-to-toe with Rangers, dominate them and not hide from them'.

The personnel may be different this time around, but the premise is still the same. They are career-defining games for players and managers alike. Under O'Neill, Celtic won seven of their first 11 derbies.

The Irishman understands more than most that the match isn't just about football. There is an emotional, cultural and psychological intelligence to it.

O'Neill once famously spoke of controlling the emotions: "You can't win these games just with heart - you need a clear head too."

The same rules that once applied to Messrs. Chris Sutton, Henrik Larsson, and John Hartson will now be foisted upon Auston Trusty, Arne Engels and Benjamin Nygren alike.

O’Neill’s record vs Rangers thus far reads 16 wins, 5 draws, 8 losses. In the modern era, it is comparable to anyone.

Tony Haggerty

Potential Celtic team vs Rangers

Viljami Sinisalo has been installed as Celtic's League Cup goalkeeper this season but with Kasper Schmeichel making such a key save against Falkirk, which has been complimented by O'Neill multiple times since as a pivotal moment, will the Dane get the nod?

Anthony Ralston looks certain to start at right-back after his experience was immediately turned to midweek. A central defensive pairing of Auston Trusty and Liam Scales is also expected with Cameron Carter-Vickers out for months after surgery.

Marcelo Saracchi is another who has earned the praise of O'Neill this week. And rightly so. He was excellent against Falkirk, arguably Celtic's best. It would be argued by many that he has to start on the left flank, especially with Kieran Tierney not at full fitness. That said, these are the kinds of games Tierney was brought back to Glasgow for.

The midfield notably had a different shape against Falkirk compared to what went before under Rodgers. Benjamin Nygren was tasked with playing much closer to the central striker to cause chaos in the Falkirk box - to great effect. That should leave Callum McGregor and Arne Engels to play deeper roles as part of a central three.

Sebastian Tounekti had one of his best matches in a Celtic shirt on Wednesday night and is set for a starring role on the left again. James Forrest has done it all at Hampden, and against Rangers, and the indications are that O'Neill will turn to that experience again.

That leaves a big decision up front. The full-of-confidence Johnny Kenny, who netted a brace against Falkirk, or a returning Daizen Maeda? O'Neill referred to Maeda as a talismanic presence in the build-up, so if he is fit enough for a start, the smart money is on the Japanese forward getting the nod despite Kenny's exploits.

Predicted XI in full: Schmeichel, Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Saracchi, McGregor, Engels, Nygren, Forrest, Tounekti, Maeda.

John McGinley

What does a win mean for Celtic at this moment?

Celtic are in desperate need of a victory against their city rivals. End of. Martin O'Neill, Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham cannot begin to contemplate five matches on the spin without a win against Rangers.

Both sides are in transition, manager-wise wise but Celtic have not tasted a triumph over their adversaries since the League Cup final on penalties, which was 11 long months ago at the same venue. Since then, there has been a 3-0 doing at Ibrox, a shock 3-2 reverse at Celtic Park, and two stalemates (1-1 and 0-0 respectively).

Celtic fully expect to win big games, not just compete in them. It is woven into the DNA and is the very fabric and identity of the club that they must strive for titles and major successes.

O'Neill will be hoping that he can spur his team on and grow the self-belief that has been sadly lacking since the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

A much-needed victory in this fixture could also have a ripple effect for the Scottish Premiership season and Scottish Cup campaign. It could be the catalyst that ignites the season and galvanises everybody at the club. It would certainly renew excitement both on and off the field and re-energise everyone.

There is no margin for error. It is win or bust on the day. The stakes are high, and the opportunity is immediate.

Celtic have underperformed, underachieved and underwhelmed thus far. Hampden Park would be the ideal place to get their season back on track and up and running.

After the week Celtic have had, it would be a much-needed tonic.

Tony Haggerty

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