Though many of the punters in the Transfer Tavern are talking about the upcoming Manchester derby, there’s the small matter of an Old Firm derby North of the Border.
Scottish football gets a much-needed shot in the arm on the weekend as Rangers travel to Celtic Park to take on their bitter Glasgow rivals.
The Bhoys propping up the bar in the Tavern have been discussing what side Brendan Rodgers will field ahead of his first meeting with the Gers, waxing lyrical about a number of options.
Though the Hoops lost a fiery Scottish cup semi-final in the last meeting between the two, the club have undergone a big rebuild under the former Liverpool coach in the months since then.
Clearly, derby day doesn’t always play by the rulebook.
Still, such is the nature of their experience at this level, the SPFL champions will surely go into the meeting as favourites.
So, with that in mind, here’s who the punters think will play on the weekend.
GK: Dorus De Vries
While Craig Gordon is undoubtedly the more experienced in Scottish football, it truly is a baptism of fire for De Vries.
His ease on the ball will be crucial in the white-hot atmosphere of the Old Firm.
RB: Mikael Lustig
The Swede has been impressive thus far this season and is the most solid option at right-back available to Rodgers.
CB: Kolo Toure
Hugely experienced in big matches, Kolo Toure will be a huge addition to the Celtic ranks in matches of this magnitude.
CB: Erik Sviatchenko
The 24-year-old has been talking up the Bhoys’ improvement in recent months and will have it all to prove at Celtic Park on Saturday.
LB: Kieran Tierney
Keeping a hold of Kieran Tierney has to be one of the biggest has to be one of the biggest positives for the Hoops.
Will be a crucial player going forward and is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the SPFL.
CM: Scott Brown
Much has been made of the comments made between Scott Brown and Joey Barton in the buildup for the game, though the ex-Scotland captain is the more experienced.
The ideal type of player for a game like this.
CM: Nir Bitton
Nir Bitton’s work in the engine room will be vital in a derby such as this one, representing a more mobile ball-winner than the aforementioned Hoops skipper.
RAM: Scott Sinclair
Sinclair’s pace will be hard for the Gers’ backline to deal with, especially if they persist with pushing their full-backs high up the pitch.
CAM: Tom Rogic
The Australian will be tasked with being the Hoops’ most creative player tomorrow, conducting play for the pacy wingers either side of him.
LAM: James Forrest
Much like Sinclair on the other side of the trident, Scotland international James Forrest’s pace will be a wonderful outlet to run at an ageing backline.
ST: Moussa Dembele
The expected absence of Leigh Griffiths will be a huge blow to the Bhoys, though French forward Moussa Dembele is barely a bad deputy.
Though his movement is not as intelligent as the Scot’s, he is a direct spearhead and lethal finisher.
