SportsMall previews Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Livingstone, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Celtic They will be looking to strengthen their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership table when they play host Livingston Wednesday night.
With the home side nine points clear in first place, the fourth-placed visitors travel to Glasgow on the back of their own five-game unbeaten run.
Match preview
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It was time for Celtic to return from the World Cup break and November saw them struggling to regain their domestic form.
However, on the back of five wins and a clean sheet, there is no doubt that Ange PostkoglowIt ensures that the team remains 9 points ahead of Rangers.
The form of their Glasgow rivals may have helped keep Celtic on the road, although they had to rely on two second-half goals to win at Dundee United on Sunday.
With no European football to look forward to, Celtic can focus on trying to win a treble and face just one away game in four games before they play Rangers in the League Cup final on February 26.
Still boasting a perfect home record in the league, nobody expects Celtic to falter in the coming weeks, but they will face a team on Wednesday.
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After suffering back-to-back defeats on 21 December and 24 December, Livingstone went on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Following promotion in the Scottish Cup, nine points from five games in the league have ensured that they are two points ahead of fourth place.
Despite the 0-0 draw with Hearts on Sunday David Martindale He will still be keen to chase third place, with his current deficit seven points with one match in hand.
Livingstone pushed Celtic to the limit in the same match on 21 December, netting all three goals in the first half in a 2–1 loss.
Celtic’s Scottish Premiership form:
Celtic form (all competitions)
Livingstone Scottish Premiership form:
Livingston form (all competitions)
Group news
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Given the three-day change, Postcoglou will certainly be looking to rotate some of his Celtic players for this fixture.
Matt O’Riley And David Turnbull Both could return to midfield, though Daisen Mada It is in the race to remember in the last third.
Yuki Kobayashi Although he can return to the middle of the back line Carl Starfelt Livingstone can maintain its position in terms of position in the table.
Jack Fitzwater’s place in the center of defense is dependent on interest in his signature ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
Ayo Obileye He is on standby to take his place if the transfer materialises, and may be the only change.
Celtic starting line-up:
Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; O’Reilly, McGregor, Turnbull; Abada, Furuhashi, Mada
Livingston Starting Lineup:
George; Devlin, Fitzwater, Boyes, Penrys; Omeonga, C. Kelly, Pitman; Bradley, Anderson, St. Kelly
We say: Celtic 3-0 Livingston.
It comes at a time when Livingston are likely to be distracted by transfer talk, although they will have the chance to test themselves at Celtic Park. With that in mind, we expect Celtic to cruise to a comfortable victory, keeping a clean sheet in the process.
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