Celtic and Rangers will meet in the first Old Firm derby of the season at Parkhead on Saturday with both teams looking to maintain their unbeaten starts to the domestic campaign.
Rangers currently sit top of the Scottish Premiership standings, picking up eight wins and two draws from their opening 10 games, although they are only a point clear of Celtic, while the Bhoys also have a game in hand.
There is an added edge to this season’s title race – not that one is required – as Celtic are aiming to win a 10th-consecutive Premiership crown, something that has never been achieved in the Scottish game before.
That will certainly give Rangers some added motivation on Saturday and Steven Gerrard’s side did claim a victory at Parkhead when the sides last met in December 2019, with goals from Ryan Kent and Nikola Katic helping them to a 2-1 win.
However, that is the only victory Rangers have had in their last 12 visits to their fierce rivals, although they will be helped by the fact there will be no crowd in attendance on Saturday due to coronavirus restrictions.
The Gers’ chances of victory will be boosted further, as Celtic are likely to be without influential forward Odsonne Edouard, who tested positive for Covid-19 last week, while attacking midfielder Ryan Christie is also self-isolating.
Rangers are priced at 17/10 to win Saturday’s contest, while a Celtic triumph is available at 29/20 and the draw is on offer at 49/20.
Morelos to Break Old Firm Duck
With Celtic’s main source of goals likely to be missing, Rangers will be hoping their leading marksman can finally deliver in an Old Firm match, with Alfredo Morelos having never scored in 11 previous appearances against the Bhoys.
The Colombia international has missed a whole host of chances during that time, including a penalty in last season’s League Cup final, but he may be someone that particularly benefits from not having a hostile crowd on his back.
There is no doubting the 24-year-old’s goalscoring attributes, as he averages more than a goal every two games for Rangers, netting 82 times in just 149 appearances across all competitions.
It would certainly be no surprise to see Morelos mark his 150th game for the club with another goal and he is priced at 6/4 to be an anytime scorer on Saturday.
Goals May Not Flow at Parkhead
Both teams have been amongst the goals so far this season, with Celtic having already netted five or more times on three separate occasions, while Rangers have scored at least twice in each of their last nine games.
However, free-flowing football has been in short supply in recent Old Firm clashes, with the two teams having instead cancelled each other out more often than not.
Indeed, there has been under 2.5 goals in five of the last seven meetings, with the two exceptions during that run only yielding three strikes apiece.
A similar story could be on cards on Saturday so backing under 2.5 goals at 5/6 could prove shrewd.
*All odds correct at time of writing
