Arguably the pick of the Boxing Day fixtures in the Scottish Premiership will see league leaders Celtic taking on fourth-placed Motherwell at Celtic Park.
Celtic will end 2024 at the summit of the league standings regardless of the outcome over the final two matches of the year, while Motherwell will be looking to draw closer to the top three before the turn of the calendar.
Match preview
© Imago
Celtic are enjoying another excellent season in the Scottish top flight, leading the league standings by nine points before Christmas and yet to taste defeat after 16 games in the campaign.
The Hoops also delivered an early present for their fans, securing the League Cup title by beating arch-rivals Rangers on penalties, after a thrilling 90 minutes saw the Old Firm derby end 3-3.
However, Brendan Rodgers's side dropped points for only the second time this season over the weekend when they were unable to overcome Dundee United on the road despite recording 78% possession and firing 17 shots at goal compared to their opponents' two.
Now back on their home patch, where they have been excellent lately, winning each of their last three matches without conceding, the Bhoys will be firmly expecting to resume business as usual by getting back in the win column, and in doing so, they will also extend their unbeaten run at Celtic Park to 18 league matches.
The hosts won the last match between these sides 3-0 on the road in their last meeting and are unbeaten in their last 28 league encounters against this opponent dating back to December 2015.
© Imago
Meanwhile, after ending each of the last two seasons in the bottom half of the league standings, Motherwell will be fairly pleased with their return up to Christmas, currently on 26 points and trailing third-placed Aberdeen by eight.
The Steelmen played out a 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock last time out, extending their current unbeaten streak in the top flight to three, following back-to-back wins over St. Mirren and Dundee United.
Liam Gordon scored his first goal of the season to give the Well the lead in the last match, but they were pegged back midway through the second half and found themselves having to hang in the closing stages after being reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute.
Stuart Kettlewell's side have split their eight away league games four wins and four defeats this season, but notably, they were able to earn a share of the spoils in their last two visits to Celtic Park, with both matches ending in 1-1 draws.
Team News
© Imago
Celtic have just one player expected to miss this match in the form of Odin Thiago Holm, who sustained a calf injury back in September and will only return to the training in the New Year.
Nicolas Kuhn was given the afternoon off against Dundee United over the weekend but should return this week to lead the line alongside Japanese strike-duo Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda.
For the visitors, centre-forward Zach Robinson ruptured his Achilles in training at the start of the month and is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines having underwent surgery a couple of weeks ago.
Dan Casey was the player sent off in the last match and will serve his one-match suspension this week, while Paul McGinn (thigh), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Jack Vale (calf) and Callum Slattery (knee) are all ruled out with injuries.
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Taylor; Bernardo, McGregor, Hatate; Maeda, Furuhashi, Kuhn
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Oxborough; Balmer, Gordon, Blaney; Kaleta, Paton, Halliday, Seddon; Miller, Watt; Stamatelopoulos
We say: Celtic 3-1 Motherwell
While Motherwell have managed to take a point from their last two visits to this venue, Celtic will be determined to return to winning ways after that 0-0 draw away to Dundee United last weekend.
The Hoops have not dropped points in consecutive league games in over a year, and we feel they will extend that record by picking up their 15th win of the season in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
