By Dan Gaichas
The Old Firm Derby is back in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since 2012. It was after that season that Rangers were demoted to what is now Scottish League Two due to financial recklessness and the Gers have since worked their way back to the top flight. Celtic are after their sixth successive title and have taken an early lead at the top of the table.
The last time these teams met was actually in the Scottish Cup Semifinal which Rangers won on penalties before losing the Final to Hibernian. Rangers currently sit second a point behind Celtic, though have played an extra match.
After Merseyside and South Wales Derbies, this will be a new experience for Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers who had never attended an Old Firm Derby before.
“I don’t think anything will prepare you from watching it on the telly to actually being there,” Rodgers told BBC. “This being the first time in a number of years there’s been a Celtic-Rangers game at Celtic Park, that will add that little bit of spice to it. The atmosphere will be incredible.
“Every derby is different. The Merseyside derby was a fantastic game, the South Wales derby being different in its own way – great games to be involved in. And Liverpool against Manchester United is a real inter-city rivalry.
“But this again is a special game. I’m really looking forward to it and I know the team are.”
Rangers are currently the underdogs, but they are confident they can pull off another upset.
“We have a confidence in what the manager wants us to do,” said the former Celtic and Scotland striker Kenny Miller. “We have just not put it together as much this season as last season.
“Whether that’s the increased level of opposition, or whether that’s trying to bed in new signings, we have turned over 20 players in the last two summers.
“That’s a lot of lads to come in and gel. It always takes time; this season has just taken a little bit longer.
“We are disappointed we have maybe not performed as well, but we are still going into it with belief in what we are doing.
“It’s a different challenge this time. When you play them at Parkhead, it’s a different atmosphere but we will still be going there looking to dominate the ball, create chances and score goals. We know we have the game to hurt anybody.
“We appreciate we will have to tighten up in the back area, they have players that can hurt us. But if we can do that then we are more than confident we can get the right result.”
It will be a 6am Central time start on FS1 at Celtic Park as the Old Firm Derby is back in the top flight. The first of likely four this season.
