Celtic could head into the first Glasgow Derby of the season with a significant cushion over their rivals, and possibly stretch it into double figures before August is out.
Under new SPFL rules, Premiership sides involved in the European play-off round can request a league fixture postponement between the two legs. Rangers have opted to use that option, moving their game to free up a full week’s preparation time. [St Mirren] Celtic faced the same decision for their clash with Livingston, but Brendan Rodgers’ side have chosen to play on.
Speaking on that decision last week, Rodgers said, “It’s early in the season, it’s at home, and we feel we’ll be getting up to speed at that point. We’ve got a big squad and will obviously have the midweek game, then that game on the Saturday. It’s a home game — no travel — and we feel it’s still a game we want to play.”
If Celtic beat Livingston at home, they will have played a game more than Rangers and could sit seven points clear before heading to Ibrox. Win there, and the gap could balloon to ten points before the end of the month – a massive gap at such an early advantage.
Celtic’s strong start, with victories in both opening league fixtures, has them well placed to capitalise. Rangers, meanwhile, have already dropped points in a draw away to Motherwell and again at home to Dundee.
Of course, the Livingston game still needs to be negotiated, but the champions know the opportunity is there to put early pressure on their rivals before the first derby kicks off.
