Celtic 0 Livingston 0 LIVE as Luis Palma denied from free-kick by unconvincing Jack Hamilton save
The widespread idea is one recreation with out victory is a disaster in Glasgow so Celtic know the prospect of shedding three consecutive league fixtures would spark apoplexy.
The losses to Kilmarnock and Hearts have sparked anger with the Parkhead hierarchy drenched in chants of ‘Sack The Board’ seven days in the past. But soccer provides hasty redemption and the champions have an opportunity to begin writing the wrongs of latest Premiership as the Green Brigade return and purpose to carry the noise.
Boss Brendan Rodgers insists he is not going via the motions throughout his second spell in cost and he insists his Celtic facet are itching to silence their sceptics with rivals Rangers in place to leapfrog them on the Premiership summit months after it appeared the Ibrox facet had been on the ground earlier than ditching Michael Beale.
Celtic will get the possibility to show some factors towards a Livingston facet who’re marooned to the foot of the desk with boss David Martindale struggling to get outcomes with a facet he believes wants a spark within the switch window.
Celtic: Hart, A. Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor (c), O’Riley, Bernardo, Maeda, Palma, Kyogo
Subs: Bain, Yang, Turnbull, Oh, Kwon, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh, M. Johnston.
Livingston: Hamilton, Parkes, Obileye, Pittman, Anderson, Brandon, Holt, Nouble, Shinnie, de Luas, Penrice
Subs: George, Montano, Kelly, Welch-Hayes, Bradley, Nottingham, Guthrie, Ledingham, Lawal.
The stakes are excessive for each and you will not miss a second of motion LIVE with us.
15:23Andy MacKay
Celtic relentless, however goalless
Celtic are piling on the strain, nevertheless it stays goalless with 20 minutes on the clock, however solely Daizen Maeda will know the way.
The hosts work one other harmful low ball to the again put up the place Maeda is ready to faucet it in nevertheless it slips below his legs as he slides to complete and it stays Celtic 0-0 Livingston.
15:18Andy MacKay
Free-kick for Celtic
Andrew Shinnie concedes a free-kick on the left nook of the field, which Luis Palma takes, with Jack Hamilton parrying unconvincingly again into the hazard space, nevertheless it’s not pounced upon by the Celtic attackers and the ball is cleared.
15:15Andy MacKay
Celtic urgent relentlessly
Every participant bar Joe Hart is presently working within the Livingston third, as Paulo Bernardo will get to the byline and performs a good cutback into the field, nevertheless it’s reduce out nicely.
There’s a vociferous backing from the house followers which is driving the gamers on right here.
15:13Andy MacKay
Palma from distance
Callum McGregor works the ball extensive for Luis Palma, and the Honduran winger opts to shoot from distance, nevertheless it goes harmlessly extensive of the Livi aim.
Still Celtic 0-0 Livingston.
15:11Andy MacKay
OFF THE LINE!
Massive likelihood for Celtic as they work it into the field for the overlapping Greg Taylor, who manages to get a great cut-back that finds Kyogo however the Japanese striker’s low shot is blocked on the road by a Livingston defender.
Celtic have began strongly right here.
15:09Andy MacKay
Kyogo shut
O’Riley virtually turns supplier as he sticks a low cross into the entrance put up, which is simply out of attain for Kyogo.
15:07Andy MacKay
Bright begin from hosts
Celtic have been on the assault from the primary whistle right here and O’Riley is near opening the scoring as he is discovered from a nook from the left-hand facet however he is not fairly capable of join and it goes over the bar.
15:07Mark Pirie
Chance for O’Riley
Luis Palma’s nook drops to Matt O’Riley however the Dane cannot nod the ball in the direction of aim – an early scare for the guests!
15:07Mark Pirie
Palma early press
The Honudran whips a cross in from the left-hand facet.
Obileye is pressured to clear the ball for the primary nook of the afternoon.
15:04Key Event
Kick-off!
We are underway at Celtic Park!
14:59Andy MacKay
Kick-off quick approaching
We’re anticipating the groups any second now with kick-off moments away.
14:57Andy MacKay
Rodgers pre-match
Brendan Rodgers was talking to membership media within the build-up to kick-off and he was talking on the inclusion of Paulo Bernardo in his beginning XI for this one:
Paulo’s a really sincere participant who brings an vitality and a dedication within the recreation, so he is clearly performed and began in plenty of the larger video games for us. He’s proven up very nicely in coaching and he has that want and mentality that we’d need within the workforce.
On the potential for Daizen Maeda to supply an elevated tempo within the facet, the supervisor stated:
Yeah, however it might’t simply be him, that is his pure recreation, I feel it is a workforce duty to have that conviction and that mentality proper from the very first whistle so hopefully we will see that right now.
On Cameron Carter-Vickers’ 100th look for the membership:
He’s had a really, excellent profession right here at Celtic and hopefully he can keep for a lot of extra years. It’s vital for him, he is one of many actual pillars of the group and his mentality and want can hopefully push the opposite gamers.
14:38Andy MacKay
Ton up for CCV
Cameron Carter-Vickers is all set for his 100th look in Celtic colors this afternoon and the American centre-half might be hoping to mark the milestone with a cushty victory towards Livingston this afternoon.
The former Tottenham defender has been a rock on the again for the house facet throughout his time in Glasgow and Celtic have very seldom misplaced a match by which he has began.
14:17Graeme Young
Green Brigade return
And they’ve returned of their standard model with pyro aplenty en path to Parkhead.
The ultras’ noise might be wanted as the champions chase three factors towards lowly Livingston.
13:59Key Event
No Rock or Lager
It sounds just like the worst gig ever and the pun above ties in with £8m of Celtic summer time signings not even capable of get within the squad.
Brendan Rodgers could make compelling arguments over the necessity for high quality however even Patsy – his final superfan – would battle to again the Irishman over the abence of Gustaf Lagerbielke, capped by Swedeen amid his Parkhead absence and £4.8m Maik Nawrocki’s ongoing incapability to make matchday squads.
And the Pole’s ongoing asbence is stunning as a result of he appeared sturdy at Pittodrie and did not put a foot mistaken towards Ross County. But Scales stays in situ and Stephen Welsh is serving as his chief back-up.
13:48Key Event
Livingston workforce to face Celtic
And here is how the guests will form up within the East End.
Livingston XI: Hamilton, Parkes, Obileye, Pittman, Anderson, Brandon, Holt (c), Nouble, Shinnie, de Luas, Penrice
Subs: George, Montano, Kelly, Welch-Hayes, Bradley, Nottingham, Guthrie, Ledingham, Lawal.
13:46Key Event
Celtic workforce to face Livingston
The workforce traces are in and here is how Celtic will line up towards Livingston.
Celtic XI: Hart, A. Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor (c), O’Riley, Bernardo, Maeda, Palma, Kyogo
Subs: Bain, Yang, Turnbull, Oh, Kwon, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh, M. Johnston.
13:36Andy MacKay
Green Brigade to return
The Green Brigade will return to their safe-standing part 111 of Celtic Park after talks between the ultras fan group and Celtic led to a lifting of the membership suspension of season tickets for these affiliated with the group.
A mammoth 14-point code of conduct was drawn up by the membership, which the ultras have agreed to abide by in an effort to safe their return to the stadium and finish the lockout.
Manager Brendan Rodgers was happy with the information, stating that:
When you’ve gotten the supervisor, the supporters and the gamers all on the identical web page it is an actual power.
It hasn’t been the ambiance for quite a lot of weeks however that is the duty of everybody. But we all know when the ambiance is white scorching at Celtic it makes it a extremely, actually troublesome place for groups to come back and play and in addition it offers the gamers that further edge as nicely.
They are higher being inside and cheering us on and hopefully that brings us all collectively and we will now look ahead for the remainder of the season.”
13:26Andy MacKay
Yang to return
Celtic are hoping that winger Yang Hyun-jun will return from the shoulder harm that has saved him out in latest matches, however the house facet might be with out longer-term absentees Liel Abada and Reo Hatate who’re but to renew full coaching.
Odin Thiago Holm did return to coaching yesterday, however could also be in need of the required sharpness to function after an sickness.
For the guests, captain Michael Devlin misses out via suspension, however aside from that David Martindale can name upon a full squad for this one.
13:13Andy MacKay
Weather Watch
While it is a pleasingly delicate 11C for this time of yr, there’s persistent rain and a prevailing wind to fret about which can certainly have an effect on the enjoying situations within the East End.
13:11Andy MacKay
Ref Watch
Matthew MacDermid is the person within the center for this afternoon’s prime v backside conflict and he leads the on-field officers workforce consisting of assistants Daniel McFarlane and Andy Milne, whereas Alastair Grieve is your fourth official.
In the VAR Room Alan Muir is joined by his AVAR Andrew McWilliam as the pair behind the screens.
13:06Andy MacKay
Welcome alongside
It’s the ultimate spherical of matches earlier than Christmas and Celtic might be hoping to present their followers some cheer this afternoon as they host backside facet Livingston, who might be determined to safe any form of outcome as they give the impression of being to keep away from going additional adrift on the backside of the Scottish Premiership desk.
Davie Martindale’s facet have been cussed operators towards Celtic up to now, however accidents and a lack of kind have seen the Lions rooted to the foot of the desk, 5 factors behind Motherwell with a recreation in hand.
For Brendan Rodgers, it is all a couple of fire-and-brimstone kind response to consecutive home defeats towards Kilmarnock and Hearts, which have seen a beforehand wholesome lead on the prime reduce proper down to simply two factors having performed a recreation greater than Rangers.
It’s positive to be one other enthralling Saturday afternoon showdown at Celtic Park and you’ll observe the entire motion LIVE proper right here.
12:43Graeme Young
Is this the Celtic redemption XI?
It’s been a sense Celtic have been unaccustomed to in over a decade however a response to consecutive Premiership defeats is a necessity for the champions.
Brendan Rodgers batted away solutions he is going via the motions however the veteran boss is acutely conscious the time is now to indicate their mettle. A run of 4 video games earlier than the winter break has the makings of a season-defining stretch for Celtic and it begins with a house conflict with lowly Livingston earlier than Santa comes down the chimney.
But what classes have been discovered within the sobering defeats to Kilmarnock and Hearts? Celtic followers expect adjustments and they’re prone to be forthcoming. David Turnbull and Mikey Johnston had been each hooked at half-time towards the Jambos however the former gives a aim menace to interrupt down Livi’s low block. Is this Paulo Bernardo’s time amid restricted minutes within the league? All might be revealed quickly. And Daizen Maeda feels a banker to return to the beginning XI after his comeback towards Hearts. Record Sport seems to be on the methods Celtic may line-up on Saturday with Yang again within the squad and Odin Holm lacking out.
12:42Graeme Young
Yosuke brings within the money
Celtic have began their January gross sales early with Japanese champions Vissel Kobe agreeing a £870,000 deal to signal forgotten on mortgage midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi, in response to mutiple stories in his homeland.
The 27-year-old was on the centre of a battle between Vissel Kobe and his present mortgage membership Avispa Fukuoka, who Ideguchi helped win the Japanese League Cup this season. And Kobe have reportedly gained the battle to signal him after agreeing the payment with Scottish Cup to signal the participant formally on January 15, when the J-League switch window reopens.
The Japanese worldwide midfielder returned to his homeland earlier this yr after a irritating spell in Glasgow. He suffered an ankle break in one in every of his first video games again in March, however recovered shortly and was broadly praised for his performances within the J-League.
12:41Graeme Young
The greater image
Andrew Shinnie admits pal Tom Lockyer struggling a cardiac arrest on the pitch offers him perspective over Livingston’s battle to beat the drop.
The pair stay associates from their time collectively at Luton and Shinnie was shocked to find final weekend he’d collapsed as their conflict with Bournemouth ended up deserted. Lockyer, who additionally had a well being scare in May’s play-off last, was launched from hospital on Thursday after having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) system fitted.
It was a fright. He was my good pal after I was down there. I discovered fairly quickly after the sport he was alert and responsive. But it was scary information and I feel he’s doing OK now. His well being is the primary factor. I’ll attempt to communicate to him when it calms down however he must take time along with his household, get all his checks and assessments finished. A man struggling a cardiac arrest on the pitch is horrible to see and it may be life-threatening. They say soccer is life and demise nevertheless it’s not. We don’t wish to be the place we’re however we will flip this example round. Something like this possibly places it into perspective a bit and makes you suppose, ‘Just go and revel in it.
12:38Graeme Young
Hello and welcome
The champions are aiming to finish their latest woes whereas Livinston seem to have been mired in woe all season lengthy.
The stakes are excessive and you will not miss a second with us.