The return of the Old Firm derby to the top flight has been a long time coming and tomorrow sees the first of six encounters – starting at Celtic Park in the lunchtime kick-off.
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New signing Philippe Senderos, who played in Rangers’ friendly win over Linfield last weekend, could make his debut.
Warburton said: “If you read the bookies’ odds, there is no point us really turning up, which is fine”.
Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers, managing in his first Old Firm game since taking over at Parkhead in the summer, was delighted with the result: “It was an outstanding team performance and a great day for the club”, he said after the final whistle. He said: “I think we’ve got to look at it; in terms of the first half we were bright first 20 minutes”. My father is five years dead today so it is ironic that we scored five goals and obviously Jock Stein was 31 years today.
Rodgers is in the process of rebuilding his reputation having been sacked by Liverpool previous year and he will know that a win against their most bitter rivals this weekend will be a great way to endear himself to the Celtic faithful.
STAR MAN – Moussa Dembele has had a frustrating time since swapping Craven Cottage for Celtic Park, with his own patchy form and the red-hot instincts of Griffiths keeping out of Rodgers’ team. Prediction: Celtic 3-1 Rangers. We are much better than we showed today.
‘We’d like to have 12 or 13 but the fact of the matter is we’re still gelling. “Always keenly fought, tough games but we’re looking forward to it”.
“We just got beaten 5-1, so I’m not going to sit here like an idiot”, Warburton was quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.
Police have otherwise praised the behaviour of both Celtic and Rangers fans, with only one arrest made at the match.
Strong, quick and with a keen eye for goal, he is the class of player that Celtic’s ambitious appointment of Rodgers has allowed them to acquire. Prediction: If I had to stick my neck out I would say I can see this being another 2-2 just with no penalty shoot-out this time.
He said: “Whether you win 5-1 or lose 5-1 – they are pros and we have to make sure we’re better for it”. We appreciate the significance of this game, but like we said going into the cup semi a year ago, it’s about what we do.
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“We have got a confidence, we have a confidence in what the manager wants us to do”.
