RANGERS host Celtic in the traditional New Year fixture and Michael Beale will get his first taste of the madness of the Old Firm encounter as a manager in his own right.
The ex-QPR boss has already stated they will have a real go against the champions and they really have to as they currently sit nine points behind Celtic.
The trouble for Beale and the vast majority of those inside Ibrox on Monday is that this is a Celtic side that appears to be reaching new levels of fitness, consistency and standards this season.
They have been utterly relentless – since a shock loss in Paisley to St Mirren in September, they have won 12 league games in a row and steamrolled the vast majority of their opposition.
The latest was Hibs in midweek and frankly, at present, no one can get near Celtic.
Rangers will take encouragement from Beale's four games in charge which have all yielded wins and they easily swept aside Motherwell in midweek.
Of course, there's always the Old Firm factor that can change things and impact on players with fragile temperaments, but there's precious little sign of that happening to Ange Postecoglou's men.
How the bookies view it
Money has been coming for Celtic and they are now as short as 6/5 in places, but Betfred are still offering 11/8. Rangers can be backed at just over 2/1 – 39/19 with SBK. The draw is 13/5 with William Hill.
Recent head to heads
Celtic swept Rangers away when the sides met in September in a 4-0 win at Parkhead. Last season, there was a win apiece for the teams at Ibrox.
Players to watch
Alfredo Morelos is a doubt with a hamstring strain,so look elsewhere and Ryan Kent has been performing well for Rangers despite his contract stalemate. He is 15/2 to score with William Hill on Monday.
Japanese ace Kyogo Furuhashi has been in sublime form recently and has scored five goals in his last three games. He is 6/4 with William Hill.
Anything else catch the eye?
Even allowing for the unpredictability of an Old Firm clash, everything points here to a Celtic win and it could be an emphatic one.
The Hoops are a well-oiled machine right now. And it's Ange Postecoglou's Plan B that can give him an additional advantage with so many game-changing options available from the bench too against a Rangers side who remain stricken with several injuries.
You only had to watch the way both sides played at Pittodrie since the break to look at the gap in quality and although it's not impossible Celtic could cover a one-goal handicap, let's just stick to them to win at 11/8.
It's far from impossible that Rangers could score though – even early on where presumably they will launch an all-out assault. But Celtic are the fittest team in the league and should be able to ride this out and prevail. The 10/3 on a Celtic win and both teams scoring with bet365 is highly tempting.
Celtic are 8/5 to win the second half with bet365 and with their squad and fitness, that's a good call.
This Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic will be played on Jan 2, 2023 and kick off at 12:30. Check below for our tipsters best Rangers vs Celtic prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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