Under the management of Philippe Clement, Rangers comfortably defeated Hibernian 3-1 in their last league outing. However, the primary focus now is on tomorrow’s game, with the clear directive being that securing three points is the top priority.
The manager might have Ridvan Yilmaz ready for the crucial league encounter, while Abdallah Sima is set to play a significant role. The question remains: will Sima start, or will he have to settle for a brief appearance?
Considering this, let’s examine who Clement could field against Celtic at Ibrox in the upcoming Old Firm clash, with three potential changes from the recent win over Hibs.
There are no surprises here. Butland has been a constant presence in every Premiership, European, and League Cup match for the club this season, missing only a single game, which was a Scottish Cup encounter against Dumbarton.
In his two Old Firm outings this season, Butland has conceded three goals. However, he’ll be aiming for his first clean sheet against Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday, which could prove crucial in the title race.
The long-serving captain continued his impressive goal-scoring form in the top flight against Hibs last week, finding the net for the third consecutive domestic game. He’ll be eager to extend this streak to four tomorrow.
Tavernier has already scored against Celtic this season, notching the consolation goal in the 2-1 defeat in December. In his career, spanning 34 matches, the Englishman has scored five goals and provided six assists against Celtic.
As Clement’s preferred choice in central defense, Goldson will be making his 25th Old Firm appearance on Sunday. He notably scored a brace against Celtic in October 2020, contributing to the Light Blues’ unbeaten run.
Similarly, Souttar has also found the net in an Old Firm derby, heading in the second goal during a 3-0 victory over Celtic last May. However, that match had little significance as Celtic had already secured the title.
Forming a solid partnership with Goldson at the heart of defense, Souttar aims to avoid any errors and potentially secure a clean sheet.
Clement mentioned during his pre-match press conference that a decision on Yilmaz’s availability would be made closer to the match. Yilmaz has started ten league matches since December and has been one of the club’s most consistent performers.
At just 22 years old, Yilmaz has already made 11 appearances for Rangers, scoring twice. His ability to make runs from deep could pose a challenge for Celtic if he operates at his best.
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