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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Brendan Rodgers names Celtic team to face Rangers

Brendan Rodgers has named an unchanged Celtic team from the draw against St Johnstone for the trip to Ibrox to face Rangers.

Joe Hart starts in goals for the Scottish champions, playing in the derby for the 12th time

Liam Scales and Gustaf Lagerbielke are making their first appearances in the fixture as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki remain out injured.

Alistair Johnston and Greg Taylor start in their respective full-back positions, while Callum McGregor and Matt O'Riley make up the double pivot. 

Liel Abada starts on the right wing, with Daizen Maeda on the left and David Turnbull in the number 10 role.

Kyogo Furuhashi leads the line through the middle. However, new signings Nat Phillips and Paulo Bernardo are not included in the squad, with Luis Palma being the only recent recruit to make the bench.

CELTIC XI: Hart, Johnston, Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, O'Riley, Turnbull, Abada, Kyogo, Maeda

SUBS: Bain, Palma, Yang, Holm, Kobayashi, Oh, Kwon, Bernabei, Ralston

Rangers XI: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Sterling, Jack, Raskin, Cantwell, Matondo, Roofe, Dessers

SUBS: McCrorie, Yilmaz, Lundstram, Lawrence, Lammers, Cifuentes, Sima, Davies, Danilo

Meanwhile, Rodgers has described the absence of away fans from the fixture as a shame – but predicted that it could help Celtic to record a triumph over Rangers at Ibrox.

 The 50-year-old admitted he is looking forward to being involved in the world-famous fixture for the first time since returning to Parkhead as manager back in June. 

However, the Northern Irishman is disappointed there will be no travelling supporters inside the ground due to a dispute between the Glasgow giants’ respective boards over ticket allocations and safety issues.

"It’s just a real shame that there are no away supporters in terms of the game itself,” said Rodgers.

“I think it’s a shame for supporters not being able to be there and a shame for players as well. 

"When you are an away player, even a home player, and you run out to these games at Ibrox to see the away end full it was a brilliant feeling. 

"It was brilliant for a Celtic manager and player and I’m sure it was a great feeling as well for a Rangers player to run out and want to prove to their own supporters how much they want to win."

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