Kris Commons is in absolutely no doubt that Celtic will win today’s Glasgow derby.
The winger made a devastating impact in the fixture when he joined Celtic in January 2011, quickly realising that one fixture stands above all others in the Scottish calendar.
Any sign of weakness is ruthlessly exploited with both management teams knowing what is at stake.
Ange Postecoglou goes to Ibrox for the third time today- up against another different Ibrox boss.
In August 2021 a makeshift Celtic side lost 1-0 to a side instructed by Steven Gerrard, self isolating at home. Back in April Aaron Ramsey got the home side off to a flying start but Giovanni van Bronckhorst came off second best as Celtic moved six points clear towards lifting the SPFL title.
Since then Postecoglou has strengthened his side, the squad have had a pre-season, played in the Champions League and won 18 out of 19 matches in the Premiership.
Across the city there is uncertainty under a new manager, trying to get the best out of what looks like a stale squad with four likely starters- Allan McGregor, Ryan Jack, Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent- out of contract at the end of this season.
Some claim that form goes out the window when the Glasgow sides clash but Commons has a very different viewpoint as he told Daily Mail readers:
Defensively, I still believe there are major question marks around this Rangers team. They don’t convince me at all.
Aberdeen and Hibs both took two goals off them — and it should have been more. If Celtic hit top gear, they could run riot at Ibrox this afternoon.
Yes, I know Rangers have had clean sheets in their last two games. But, with all due respect, those came against Ross County and Motherwell.
Celtic are playing football on a different planet to those sort of teams and will ask questions of Rangers which I don’t believe Beale’s side are capable of answering.
Listen, Beale will have come into this with his eyes wide open. He will be fully aware of the size of the rebuild that is facing him at Ibrox. But, if anyone has any doubt, ask yourself one simple question: How many current Rangers players would get into the Celtic team?
You would have to say none. I don’t think you can make a conclusive case for any of them. At the very most, there’s maybe a couple of 50-50s.
Maybe you’d take Connor Goldson ahead of Carl Starfelt, but Goldson has been miles off it since Rangers won the league.
Likewise, you could maybe make a case for Borna Barisic ahead of Greg Taylor at left-back. Even that feels like a bit of a stretch.
Barisic has a habit of being posted missing in these Old Firm games, while Taylor has been one of the most improved players in the country over the past year or so.
Other than that, there’s no one in this Rangers squad who would get anywhere near the Celtic team.
If you were picking a combined XI, the full midfield and forward line would be wearing green and white.
Commons doesn’t hold back, by 2.30pm today we’ll know whether or not his confidence was well placed.
Celtic are in a good place and if they play as well as they have recently I agree with Kris Commons.
However when it comes to who in the ‘Rangers’ side could make it in the Celtic side is a different matter. Both teams play different systems and have different philosophies so it can’t really be judged.