Now that the last game of 2024 is out of the way, Celtic fans can now look forward to the New Year Glasgow Derby against Rangers.
After the Hoops comfortably beat St Johnstone yesterday afternoon, a 14-point gap has opened up at the top of the Scottish Premiership after Rangers slipped up at Motherwell.
With Celtic flying, scoring goals and keeping it tight at the back, Rangers are struggling, have gaping holes defensively and are under real intense pressure ahead of Brendan Rodgers’ visit on the 2nd of January.
Philippe Clement is under intense scrutiny and it was put to former Celtic hero, Chris Sutton, if he believed the Rangers boss would still be in the dugout for the big Glasgow Derby on Thursday.
Chris Sutton thinks Rangers will not be managerless before Celtic game
Sutton told It’s All Kicking Off, “I don’t think he’ll be sacked before Thursday’s game against Celtic. I think it’s a must-win for him. I do think it’s a must-win.
“I think he’s hanging on now, but I think the Rangers fans have sort of had enough. Europe’s kept him in a job up until now.
“Fourteen points the gap between Celtic and Rangers at the top of the SPFL. And as I say, they play on Thursday at Ibrox. Rangers drew 2-2 at Motherwell at the weekend.
“Even from my distance, that is unacceptable. It has to be unacceptable. If that goes to 17 points, what’s the point?
What is the point of continuing?
Celtic could end the title race with Ibrox win vs Rangers
It’s hard for even the most cautious of Celtic fans to deny but a win at Ibrox on Thursday will all but end Rangers’ title challenge.
A 17-point gap would open up which would mean that Celtic would have to lose six games and Rangers would have to go the rest of the season and win their 19 remaining games.
On both counts, that simply will not happen. An argument could even be made that if Rangers win on Thursday the title is still over.
11 points would separate the two teams and Celtic would still have to lose four and Rangers would still need to win all of their remaining games which includes a trip to Celtic Park.
Brendan Rodgers will not look at it so simplistically but the Celtic manager will concede one thing if asked. Going to Ibrox with such a healthy lead at the top of the table does take a lot of pressure of his team to secure a positive result for the first time in years.
