Celtic get their Scottish League Cup campaign underway on Wednesday when they visit the Global Energy Stadium to square off against Ross County.
The Bhoys head into the midweek clash off the back of inflicting a humiliating 9-0 defeat on Dundee United and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.
Match preview
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Ross County were sent crashing down to earth in the new Scottish Premiership campaign as they fell to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Rangers when the sides met last Saturday.
In a one-sided affair at Ibrox, goals from John Lundstram, Steven Davis and a brace from Antonio Colak saw the hosts ease to their fourth win of the season.
Prior to that, Ross County picked up their first win of the season on August 20, when Owura Edwards netted in the 86th minute to see off Kilmarnock 1-0 and end a run of three straight defeats.
Malky Mackay's men now turn their attention to the Scottish League Cup where they cruised through the qualifiers, claiming four wins from their four games to finish top of Group C with a four-point cushion over runners-up Dunfermline Athletic.
While the Staggies will be looking to return to winning ways and maintain their 100% cup record, next up is the stern test of going up against a Celtic side against whom they are currently on a five-game losing streak and are winless in 18 of their last 20 encounters since August 2013.
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Ange Postecoglou's men, on the other hand, leapfrogged Rangers to first place in the Premiership table ahead of Saturday's highly-anticipated Old Firm clash as they tore apart Dundee United in an emphatic 9-0 victory.
Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi and strike partner Liel Abada both grabbed the headlines at Tannadice Park as they each scored a hat-trick to hand the hosts their biggest-ever defeat in history.
The results, which was just two goals shy of the club-record 11-0 win over Dundee in October 1895, saw the Scottish champions set a new record for the biggest away win in Premiership history.
The Bhoys have now won each of their opening five games of the 2022-23 league campaign, scoring a staggering 21 goals and conceding just once to kick off their title defence on a high.
Celtic, who are also the current holders of the League Cup crown courtesy of December's 2-1 win over Hibernian in the 2021-22 final, kick off their hunt for a 21st title with a trip to the Global Energy Stadium where they are currently on a three-game winning streak and are unbeaten in eight of their last nine visits since 2016.
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Team News
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Off the back of an emphatic victory over Dundee United, Postecoglou could name a similar side on Wednesday, meaning that we could see the attacking trio of Jota, Abada and Furuhashi for the second straight game.
Former Everton man James McCarthy will push for a starting role in midfield, potentially teaming up with Rep Hatate and Matt O'Riley, while we expect an unchanged centre-back pairing of Carl Starfelt and former Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.
On the injury front, the Bhoys will be without 26-year-old midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi, who is yet to feature this term after picking up a training injury during pre-season.
Stephen Welsh suffered a minor muscle problem in the league opener against Aberdeen on July 31 and the 22-year-old defender is a doubt for Wednesday's game.
As far as Ross County are concerned, Mackay will have to cope with the absence of Connor Randall after the English defender came off injured in the league clash against Celtic on August 6.
He is joined on the Staggies injury table by 24-year-old forward William Akio, who is set to sit out his sixth game on the bounce after picking up a knee problem back in July.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Johnson, Watson, Iacovitti, Purrington; Cancola, Tillson; Sims, Samuel, Edwards; White
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Jenz, Taylor; Hatate, McGregor, Turnbull; Furuhashi, Giakoumakis, Jota
We say: Ross County 0-3 Celtic
Celtic have kicked off the new campaign on a high and are currently firing on all cylinders. The Bhoys take on a floundering Ross County side who have lost three of their most recent four games and we are backing them to comfortably see off the home side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
