Celtic vs Rangers LIVE!

Celtic took a huge step towards another Scottish Premiership title by seeing off Rangers in a thrilling Old Firm derby on Saturday. Matt O’Riley opened the scoring for the hosts at Parkhead with a brilliant low first-half strike, before the lead was quickly doubled after an unfortunate own goal from John Lundstram.

Cyriel Dessers’ close-range header mere seconds later halved the deficit for Rangers, who lost Lundstram on the stroke of half-time when his yellow card for a wild sliding challenge on Alistair Johnston was upgraded to red by referee Willie Collum after the VAR had sent him to consult the pitchside monitor.

Rangers managed to hold out for the entire second half despite their numerical disadvantage, playing their part in a grandstand finish after Jack Butland had saved O’Riley’s poor penalty and Celtic missed a host of chances as well as Daizen Maeda seeing two goals ruled out for offside. However, Celtic ultimately still prevailed to go six points clear of their fierce rivals with only two games left to play this season.

Celtic vs Rangers highlights

• NO GOAL! Maeda denied by offside flag again

• NO GOAL! Maeda finish ruled out for offside

• Tame O'Riley penalty saved by Butland

• RED CARD! Lundstram sent off before break

• GOAL! Dessers immediately reduces deficit

• GOAL! Lundstram puts through his own net

• GOAL! O'Riley fires Celtic into first-half lead

Celtic 2-1 Rangers

15:08 , George Flood

Full-time

Celtic hold on in a totally chaotic Old Firm derby to take a major step towards another Scottish Premiership title.

They go six points clear of their rivals with only two games to go and a much better goal difference.

It’s surely now all but over.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 97 mins

14:29 , George Flood

Rangers are still slinging balls into the box as the clock ticks past the 97th minute.

But Celtic stand firm at the back and the full-time whistle sounds.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 95 mins

14:26 , George Flood

All credit to Rangers, who have been so resilient in this second half and never given up.

Still they try and go for it...

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 93 mins

14:24 , George Flood

Such an absorbing finish at Celtic Park, with defenders up front for Rangers and Butland even going up for a corner after Yilmaz’s strike is blocked.

Celtic clear and counter with numbers, but Idah can’t hit the target!

He’s been so wasteful since coming on.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 91 mins

14:23 , George Flood

SEVEN minutes of added time signalled.

Can Rangers save their title bid?

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 89 mins

14:20 , George Flood

GOOA... NO!

For the second time in this half, Maeda finishes expertly but is denied by the offside flag!

Yet another huge let-off for Rangers.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 88 mins

14:20 , George Flood

Still Rangers are hanging in there and looking to threaten on the counter.

But here come Celtic again, determined to kill this game off...

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 85 mins

14:17 , George Flood

Celtic just cannot finish this off as Idah is unable to test Butland with Maeda in the middle.

Rodgers is looking a bit nervous on the touchline.

Will all these missed chances come back to cost his side?

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 82 mins

14:14 , George Flood

A huge chance for Idah to finish this game off, but he doesn’t anticipate the cross from Ralston and the ball bounces off him before being gathered by Butland.

Rangers send on Roofe for Dessers.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 79 mins

14:11 , George Flood

Another change now from Rodgers as Tomoki replaces Hatate.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 79 mins

14:10 , George Flood

Tavernier’s corner is eventually cleared at the front post, with a follow-up ball not finding any blue shirts.

Dare I say Celtic are starting to look nervous at the back here?

This game is far from over as we head into the final 10 minutes...

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 76 mins

14:09 , George Flood

A Celtic attack breaks down and Wright tears forward on the counter for Rangers, who have a corner after some committed tracking back and defending from McGregor.

Yilmaz’s ball to the back post is then punched away by Hart, who concedes another corner.

A delay in Tavernier taking as he has to deal with objects thrown in his direction from the stands.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 74 mins

14:07 , George Flood

Rangers were apparently going to replace Dessers with Scott Wright, but they’ve changed their mind and now Silva makes way.

Carter-Vickers looks to connect with a Celtic corner to the back post, but Rangers wind up with a pressure-relieving free-kick.

The noise levels have gone back up at Celtic Park as the fans try to will their team over the line to all but guarantee another Scottish Premiership title - their third in a row and 54th overall.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 73 mins

14:05 , George Flood

German winger Kuhn is straight into the action, cutting inside from the right flank and weaving his way across the box before his strike is deflected over by Davies.

Johnston is down for Celtic and in need of treatment.

He gingerly makes his way off, replaced by Ralston.

A tough game for Johnston up against Silva.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 71 mins

14:03 , George Flood

Inside the final 20 minutes at Celtic Park and Brendan Rodgers looks to his bench for the first time this afternoon.

Idah and Kuhn replace Forrest and Kyogo.

Fresh legs no doubt intended to stretch this tired and undermanned Rangers backline.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 69 mins

14:02 , George Flood

Some brighter signs for Rangers now as McCausland threatens in the box and Silva fires over.

McGregor brings down Raskin and has his name taken.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 67 mins

13:59 , George Flood

Easier said than done with 10 men against a side of Celtic’s quality, but Rangers have to find an out ball here.

They are soaking up so much pressure and giving the ball back straightaway with virtually every clearance or rushed pass.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 65 mins

13:58 , George Flood

Celtic are getting the ball wide at will and peppering the Rangers box with dangerous crosses, but they can’t find the necessary finish.

A crucial block in there from Sterling.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 60 mins

13:57 , George Flood

Barisic and Lawrence made way for Yilmaz and Raskin.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, penalties, offside goals and sheer pressure applied, Rangers have still yet to concede in this second half.

They are still in the game, just...

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 58 mins

13:56 , George Flood

GOOA... NO!

Raskin and Yilmaz will be on for Rangers soon.

McGregor’s low strike is held by Butland before another finds its way into the path of Maeda, who fires home inside the box.

But the offside flag is rightly up. Still 2-1.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 54 mins

13:50 , George Flood

A rare occurrence as referee Collum consults the monitor but sticks to his original decision.

It’s been a long wait as O’Riley steps up... SAVED by Butland!

2-1 it remains.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 57 mins

13:49 , George Flood

Despite that penalty miss, Rangers remain under huge pressure coming up to an hour played at Celtic Park.

The hosts are stepping up from midfield and trying their luck from range at will.

Kyogo now sees a close-range effort blocked.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 52 mins

13:48 , George Flood

Hang on a minute!

Willie Collum has again been sent to have a look at the pitchside monitor.

There was contact there, but was it enough to go down?

I think they feel the contact was initiated by O’Riley.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 50 mins

13:42 , George Flood

PENALTY TO CELTIC!

O’Riley turns nicely inside the box and is clipped by Diomande.

Referee Willie Collum points to the spot.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 47 mins

13:39 , George Flood

O’Riley fires narrowly wide before Hatate’s strike is then blocked behind by Davies.

Sky Sports report that Souttar is not injured...

Celtic 2-1 Rangers

13:37 , George Flood

The players are back out at Celtic Park and Rangers have made a surprising half-time change.

John Souttar has made way for winger Ross McCausland - that must be injury-related.

More centre-back problems for Philippe Clement, who is already without the likes of Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun.

It looks like the versatile Sterling will join Davies in central defence now.

Far from ideal. Back underway.

GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Rangers | Matt O'Riley 35'

13:34 , George Flood

35 mins: What a strike to break the deadlock!

McGregor with a very determined run as he cuts back and inside to find O’Riley, who is left in far too much space to whip a brilliant low strike beyond Butland and into the bottom corner.

Celtic Park erupts. He had been threatening that...

GOAL! Celtic 2-0 Rangers | John Lundstram OG 38'

13:33 , George Flood

38 mins: An utter disaster for Rangers!

Maeda controls a sweeping ball out to the left, Tavernier backs off and Lundstram is left red-faced as he tries to cut out the low cross but succeeds only in putting through his own net.

A nightmare couple of minutes and the visitors now have a mountain to climb to keep their title hopes alive.

13:31 , George Flood

Here is the challenge that led to the red card for Lundstram.

Right decision?

GOAL! Celtic 2-1 Rangers | Cyriel Dessers 40'

13:30 , George Flood

40 mins: What a wild few minutes at Celtic Park!

Rangers hit back immediately!

Sterling rises highest to meet Barisic’s cross to the back post and Dessers is there to head home from close range.

Game on once again!

Red card - John Lundstram (Rangers)

13:29 , George Flood

47 mins: The referee is advised to consult the pitchside monitor after the VAR check and upgrades the yellow to red!

Rangers trailing and down to 10 men before the interval.

What a disastrous display from Lundstram. A mindless tackle.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers

13:24 , George Flood

Half-time

And breathe!

A hugely dramatic final 10 minutes of the first half at Celtic Park.

The Scottish Premiership leaders went in front after Matt O’Riley’s strike was quickly followed by a John Lundstram own goal, with the latter then sent off for a wild challenge on Alistair Johnston.

Rangers now face a really tough task to keep their title bid alive...

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 48 mins

13:22 , George Flood

Hatate joins Maeda in the book with a poor challenge of his own just before the break.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 45 mins

13:18 , George Flood

Three minutes of added time signalled.

Lundstram has just flown in with a woeful challenge on Johnston, catching him above the ankle.

He gets an initial yellow from referee Willie Collum, but VAR is going to look at this.

This could be big trouble for Rangers...

Celtic 2-1 Rangers | 42 mins

13:17 , George Flood

A Rangers penalty appeal is turned down before Hatate shoots wide for Celtic.

An incredible game now, this.

The Old Firm derby never fails to disappoint...

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 30 mins

13:04 , George Flood

A brief lull in the derby as we tick past the half-hour mark before O’Riley and Johnston combine to set up Kyogo, whose powerful strike from inside the box is crucially parried by Butland.

Another big save by the England goalkeeper.

That could easily have been 1-0.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 26 mins

13:00 , George Flood

Lundstram leads a useful Rangers break but holds onto the ball and can’t link up with Dessers ahead.

Celtic take no chances conceding a Tavernier corner that they eventually hack clear with Hart under a lot of pressure from Dessers and Lundstram.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 24 mins

12:57 , George Flood

This is a strong period of sustained pressure by Celtic, who force a couple of quick-fire corners but Souttar makes an impressive clearance.

Here come the hosts again and Hatate tees up O’Riley, whose curling left-footed strike goes wide of the post.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 14 mins

12:56 , George Flood

Rangers are beginning to grow in confidence as they start to see a fair share of the ball.

Davies steps up aggressively on Kyogo and the loose ball falls inside the box for Wolves loanee Silva, who lashes wide of Joe Hart’s far post.

Former England ‘keeper Hart is making his 150th Celtic appearance this afternoon.

He is of course retiring at the end of this season.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 22 mins

12:53 , George Flood

A couple of attempts in quick succession there from McGregor for Celtic, but Butland isn’t tested.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 20 mins

12:52 , George Flood

That is a huge early opportunity wasted by Rangers.

A looping cross from the right is nodded wide of the back post by a stooping Silva, who felt he was being fouled by Johnston.

No penalty given and the VAR check is promptly wrapped up.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 17 mins

12:51 , George Flood

That’s an important intervention from Diomande to prevent Hatate from linking up with a squared pass on the edge of the box after another dangerous run from Forrest.

Silva looks to lead a quick Rangers counter-attack, but he’s contained by McGregor and ends up fouling the home skipper - who looks in no mood to exchange pleasantries.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 19 mins

12:51 , George Flood

Chance for Celtic!

McGregor has oceans of space to drive through the middle of the park.

He has Kyogo making a run ahead of him, but elects to release a low shot that flies wide of the near post.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 11 mins

12:44 , George Flood

It’s typically fierce in that midfield area, but Diomande needs to calm down here.

Now he takes down Celtic captain McGregor and is perhaps lucky not to have a yellow card to his name already.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 9 mins

12:41 , George Flood

Lively Celtic are beginning to dominate now, turning the screw as Rangers struggle for an effective out ball.

A foolish challenge from Diomande on Hatate allows O’Riley to whip a decent free-kick narrowly wide.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 6 mins

12:39 , George Flood

Celtic stalwart Forrest looks in the mood early on here as his latest drive is helped on its way over by Butland.

The subsequent corner comes to nothing.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 5 mins

12:37 , George Flood

Silva unleashes a decent cross to the back post for Rangers, where Sterling beats Taylor but his flick-on is seen off by Scales before Dessers can apply the finishing touch.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 4 mins

12:36 , George Flood

The pace is frenetic and atmosphere incredible as we lurch from end to end during the early stages.

Rangers are posing a threat after that early let-off, though Forrest has just let fly with a shot that sails over the crossbar.

Celtic 0-0 Rangers | 2 mins

12:35 , George Flood

A typically frantic start to this Old Firm derby as Rangers almost fall behind straightaway!

Forrest beats Barisic too easily and Souttar’s deflection almost ends up in the back of his own net, but for a critical save from Butland.

Celtic vs Rangers

12:32 , George Flood

Underway after a spine-tingling rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Can Rangers get the win they need to keep the title race alive?

12:29 , George Flood

Here come the players at a rocking Celtic Park!

Still no away fans allowed in Old Firm derbies of course, so it will be 60,000 noisy home supporters screaming on the hosts this afternoon.

Something that makes the task all the harder for Rangers...

12:19 , George Flood

If Rangers are to win at Celtic Park today for the first time since 2020, when they last won the title under Steven Gerrard, then keeping this man quiet will be key to their chances.

Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi has an incredible scoring record in Old Firm derbies since joining Celtic from Vissel Kobe in 2021 and will be eager to extend that run this afternoon.

Clement denies Celtic clash is 'must win' for Rangers

12:05 , George Flood

So Celtic sit three points ahead of Rangers going into this high-stakes Old Firm derby, which will ramp up another notch for this month’s Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park.

Crucially, their goal difference is also +5 better than Rangers’, who still have to host Dundee and travel to third-place Hearts while Celtic face Kilmarnock and St Mirren.

It looks like absolute must win for the Gers today, though Philippe Clement doesn’t subscribe to that opinion.

"I don't totally agree with that,” he said.

"If you have a draw there you can still become champions.

“Even if you lose, that it is a really long-shot and too much of a long-shot for me, but with the point also.

"But we go full for the three points. Clear, very, very clear.

“Doing that we can make an incredible comeback and make a really big statement also."

11:52 , George Flood

The stage is set.

A glorious sunny day in Glasgow - perfect for football

Two Rangers changes as Davies and Lawrence start

11:49 , George Flood

Rangers boss Philippe Clement, meanwhile, makes two changes to the team that thumped Kilmarnock 4-1 at Ibrox last weekend.

Ben Davies comes into the defence as expected for his first start since December with Connor Goldson sidelined and Leon Balogun also missing out, while in attack Tom Lawrence is preferred to Todd Cantwell.

Rabbi Matondo, Danilo Pereira, Abdallah Sima, Oscar Cortes and Ryan Jack are all out.

One Celtic change from Hearts victory

11:42 , George Flood

So Brendan Rodgers makes one change to the Celtic team that eased past Hearts 3-0 on home soil last weekend, with Daizen Maeda fit to return to the attack in place of Nicolas Kuhn.

Otherwise it’s as you were for the Scottish Premiership leaders, with South Korean forward Yang Hyun-Jun not involved.

Lineups in full

11:38 , George Flood

Celtic XI: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, O'Riley, McGregor, Hatate, Forrest, Kyogo, Maeda

Subs: Palma, Idah, Kuhn, Nawrocki, Iwata, Bernardo, Bain, Ralston, Welsh

Rangers XI: Butland, Tavernier, Davies, Souttar, Barisic, Diomande, Lundstram, Sterling, Lawrence, Silva, Dessers

Subs: Yilmaz, Cantwell, Dowell, Wright, Roofe, McCrorie, King, Raskin, McCausland

Rangers lineup

11:19 , George Flood

And here’s confirmation of the Rangers team at Celtic Park...

Clement urges Rangers 'gladiators' to seize their moment

11:19 , George Flood

Phillipe Clement likened his players to gladiators in the Colosseum as Rangers look for the victory today that would take them level on points with Celtic at the Scottish Premiership summit with only two games to go.

"Yes, they need to grab that moment,” the Belgian boss said.

“We need to grab that moment together and put all our energy in that, and that is the nice thing about sport, about competition.

"I think football is maybe a little bit like the gladiators of the modern age.

“In the old times you had the gladiators there in a stadium full of people shouting and booing and putting their thumb up or thumb down. I think we are now in that situation.

"The good thing is people don't kill us, we are not dead afterwards. Maybe verbally, yes, but not in real life and that is a positive that we always have another go in the stadium again.

"That's how society works now and players have to be ready for that.

"It is also an exciting thing because the more passion people have for their teams, the more support you have also.

"It works both ways. They need to grab this moment to be really good gladiators tomorrow in the Colosseum."

Celtic lineup

11:18 , George Flood

Celtic have gone first with their early team announcement...

Rodgers dismisses Clement claims over Rangers 'disrespect'

11:03 , George Flood

Brendan Rodgers insisted yesterday that any suggestion that he had disrespected Philippe Clement or Rangers in the build-up to this derby were “totally without merit”.

He said: "I think anyone who was at my press conference would have sensed the way in which it was said.

“The reaction to that is totally without merit. It has no context whatsoever.

"You mention my past record in these games, I have never referred to these other than being intense, being competitive.

“We never talk about the game as that but we talk about the whole occasion.

"The occasion is one of the most iconic games in world football.

“And I love it. It's one of the reasons I am here, the great pride and privilege I have in managing Celtic in a Rangers game.

“So the whole emotion, the whole feeling around this game is absolutely amazing.

"I have seen some of the headlines around the 'disrespect' and whatever else but it is totally without merit.

"It was never in that context being said, and I never would be that person to disrespect another manager or another team.

“But I suppose it's part of the build-up for you guys."

Rodgers upsets Clement with Celtic 'fun' comments

10:49 , George Flood

The flames of this epic rivalry were fanned even more by Brendan Rodgers last week, when he said his Celtic side could “have a bit of fun” against Rangers this afternoon.

Such comments were given short shrift by opposite number Phillipe Clement, who took them as a sign of disrespect.

"That is something that I would never say about an opponent," he said.

"But okay, we will see. It's not really respectful towards my team. That is what I think. So I will never say things like that about an opponent.

"I am looking forward to that (game) and to be honest as a manager I would love that it was tomorrow instead of next week - but that is maybe not so good for my players.

"We are really hungry for that game. Six months ago we were seven points behind and now we are three points behind and we can go equal.

“The team has already done a lot of steps and now it is about making the next step."

Both managers played down the spat later in the week, but it’s clearly added yet another edge to an already enormous derby showdown today.

Predicted lineups

10:33 , George Flood

Here is how Standard Sport sees both sides lining up at Celtic Park this afternoon...

Predicted Celtic XI: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, O’Riley, Hatate; Kuhn, Kyogo, Forrest

Predicted Rangers XI: Butland; Tavernier, Davies, Souttar, Barisic; Diomande, Lundstram; Sterling, Cantwell, Silva; Dessers

Celtic vs Rangers prediction

10:21 , George Flood

Such has been Celtic’s record against Rangers this season, you’d have to back them at home for a victory that will all but seal another Scottish Premiership title.

Celtic to win, 2-1.

Rangers team news

10:20 , George Flood

Rangers boss Philippe Clement is dealing with some defensive issues as he plots a first win over Celtic, Rangers’ first victory of the season over their fiercest rivals and first triumph at Celtic Park since 2020.

Ben Davies looks set for a first start since December alongside John Souttar at centre-back, with Connor Goldson out for the season with a knee injury suffered in training and Leon Balogun also now doubtful with a muscle issue.

Rabbi Matondo, Abdallah Sima, Ryan Jack, Oscar Cortes and Danilo Pereira have also all been nursing injuries of late.

Celtic team news

10:15 , George Flood

Japanese winger Daizen Maeda is now fit again for Celtic and could come into the starting XI this afternoon, though Brendan Rodgers is unlikely to want to make too many changes to the side that brushed aside Hearts 3-0 last weekend.

The Bhoys appear to have an almost entirely clean bill of health for today’s crucial Old Firm derby meeting, though injury-plagued midfielder James McCarthy remains on the sidelines.

How to watch Celtic vs Rangers

10:10 , George Flood

TV channel: The game will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Coverage starts at 11.30am.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will also be able to watch on a live stream online via the Sky Go app.

Celtic vs Rangers live

10:08 , George Flood

Good morning and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of a massive Old Firm derby showdown between Celtic and Rangers.

The stakes could hardly be much higher for the penultimate clash of the season between these two bitter foes, who are separated by just three points at the Scottish Premiership summit with only three games remaining this term.

This is surely must-win territory now for Phillipe Clement’s Rangers side if they are to have serious hopes of toppling Brendan Rodgers and Celtic in a late title heist.

Kick-off this afternoon is at 12:30pm BST, so stay tuned for all the latest team news and live match updates.

You won’t want to miss this!