---
title: "Celtic: Predicted XI to play Kilmarnock"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-predicted-xi-to-play-kilmarnock/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2020-08-09T09:00:01Z"
modified: "2020-08-09T09:00:01Z"
---

# Celtic: Predicted XI to play Kilmarnock

**Celtic enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2020/21 season as they thrashed Hamilton Academical [5-1](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX) on the opening day. It was a clear message to all in the division that it is going to be very hard to stop the Hoops [reclaiming](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/startseite/verein/371) the title and winning it [ten times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/startseite/verein/371) in a row.**

Next up is Kilmarnock, who lost [2-1](https://spfl.co.uk/league/premiership/results) away at Hibernian in a tough fixture, and it doesn’t get any easier for them as they welcome the Bhoys on [Sunday.](https://spfl.co.uk/league/premiership/fixtures)

Neil Lennon will want his side to put in another dominant performance, and here is the predicted XI that TT believe the manager will go with to make sure they come away with the three points.

With such a dominant performance, there is no real need to change the back four and goalkeeper despite the fact they conceded a goal. Jeremie Frimpong showed his attacking threat as he [scored](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX), whilst Christopher Jullien put in a dominant performance, which included getting an [assist](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX), which TT wrote about in an [Unsung Heroes](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/christopher-jullien-celtic-spfl/#:~:text=Unsung%20Heroes%3A%20Christopher%20Jullien%20shone%20in%20Celtic's%20SPFL%20opening%20day%20victory&text=Celtic%20put%20in%20a%20great,Jullien%20was%20one%20of%20them.) feature earlier this week.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Celtic-Predicted-XI-400x500.png)

Meanwhile Scott Brown and Callum McGregor are a solid midfield pairing, and even though Brown got the lowest rating of any Celtic player [(6.3)](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX), there is no way that Lennon can drop the captain who always makes up for his odd poor performances with his leadership and experience.

Despite making six key passes, Ryan Christie did not have a great game as he picked up a rating of 6.7, per SofaScore. The attacking midfielder, who is valued at [£5.85](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX) million on [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ryan-christie/profil/spieler/188077) missed one big chance, picked up no goals or assists, and lost possession [17](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX) times, so it might be a good idea for Lennon to replace him with Olivier Ntcham, who came on for 20 minutes against Hamilton and made [one](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX) key pass whilst [90](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX)% of his passes were accurate.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”292669″\]

Even though he came [on](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX) for Elyounoussi, he is more of a central midfielder and Lennon might just want players to know if they don’t have a good performance, he has players on the bench who can come in.

Odsonne Edouard showed why he has received a lot of [interest](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5887438/edouard-transfer-60m-celtic/) from other clubs in Europe as he started the new season exactly as expected by picking up a 9.0 rating, per [SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/hamilton-academical-celtic/cXsBX) and a hat trick. The Frenchman will be leading the line again and hoping to be a menace for the Kilmarnock defence.

Even though it is only the second game of the season, it is still a big one for Celtic as they want to make sure they stay at the [top](https://spfl.co.uk/league/premiership/table) of the table.

***Hoops fans, what are your thoughts on this starting eleven? Let us know down below!***