Celtic

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Celtic midfielder Arne Engels could start after illness restricted him to a late appearance against Rangers.

Winger James Forrest remains out through injury.

Goalkeeper Zach Hemming is vying for a start after returning to St Mirren on loan from Middlesbrough, but incumbent Ellery Balcombe himself remains on loan from Brentford.

Forward Conor McMenamin is a doubt, while centre-half Charles Dunne remains out.

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Celtic captain Callum McGregor believes Sunday's Scottish Premiership match against St Mirren is the perfect time to "rectify" their surprise Old Firm derby defeat by Rangers.

The league champions suffered their first defeat at Ibrox since May 2023, but are still 11 points clear at the top of the league.

McGregor says the result was a wake-up call for Celtic before the visit of the Buddies.

"It just shows you that if you're not competitive in the game then it can happen," he said. "I think over the piece we've been so good in these games that maybe everyone's a bit like, 'oh, what happened there?'

"It's probably a testament to how well we've done and how much we've managed to go there and get results and play well.

"So, it's just a reminder that if you're not quite on the money then these games are tough and you can lose them and then the pressure starts to build so it's important that we reflect on the game and then we get it out of our system come Sunday.

"We just need to reset and go again. That's the good thing. There's a game in a few days so we can try and rectify it.

"Obviously, it is a different opponent and everything else, but you can try and get it out of your system.

"There's a lot of football in January, so just get that performance, get the high energy and just tick them off one at a time."

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• Celtic have won each of their last six meetings with St Mirren in all competitions, last winning seven in a row over the Buddies in March 2017.

• St Mirren have won just one of their last 36 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D3 L32), a 2-1 victory in January 2021.

• Celtic have lost just one of their last 72 home league matches (W61 D10), winning 17 of their last 19 (D2) since a 0-2 defeat to Hearts in December 2023.

• Only Dundee (one) have kept fewer clean sheets in the Scottish Premiership this season than St Mirren (two), who have recorded just one shutout in their last 20 league games (0-0 v Ross County in November).

• Celtic are looking to win six successive home league games while also keeping a clean sheet each time for the first time since February 2019.

Celtic are expected to contact Arsenal to begin negotiations about taking out-of-favour Scotland defender Kieran Tierney on loan until the end of the season, with talks having already begun between Celtic and the 27-year-old's agent about a permanent return when his contract with the Premier League club ends this summer. (Sky Sports), external

Celtic are hoping to announce the sensational return of Kieran Tierney from Arsenal on a pre-contract agreement over the next week. (Scottish Sun), external

Celtic winger Luis Palma is top of Genoa's January wish list, but they face competition for the out-of-favour 24-year-old Honduras from, among others, Greek club Olympiakos. (Genova Today), external

Celtic have rejected an offer from Internacional to sign Argentine left-back Alexandro Bernabei, with the Brazilian club's bid being below the £3.75m the Scottish champions paid for him in 2022. (The Celtic Way), external

Left-back Alexandro Bernabei, centre-half Maik Nawrocki and winger Luis Palma are all likely to leave Celtic this month. (Football Insider), external

Out of favour winger Jota has once again been sidelined by Stade Rennes boss Jorge Sampaoli amid rumours over a return to Celtic. (Daily Record), external

Johnny Kenny, the second top scorer in this season's Europa Conference League, has returned to Celtic after his loan to Shamrock Rovers, but while the striker wants to challenge for a first-team place with his parent club, the Irish outfit are keen to bring him back to continue their European campaign. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Five-and-a-half years since his £25m departure to Arsenal, Kieran Tierney is in talks over a return to Celtic.

The Scottish champions have opened discussions aimed at bringing the Scotland defender home on a pre-contract this summer.

Left-back Tierney was a homegrown hero during his four years in Celtic's first team, making his debut in 2015 and going on to win four consecutive league titles as well as two Scottish Cups and two League Cups.

At 27, he should be hitting his peak, but injuries have ravaged his body in recent years. Tierney was out for five months after suffering a hamstring tear at Euro 2024 and has featured just once, as a substitute, for Arsenal this season since recovering.

Out of favour at the Gunners, a reunion with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic would present the opportunity to reignite his career.

What do you make of the potential move - a great bit of business by Celtic to bring back a top-class talent? And should they be trying to sign him now rather than summer? Or does Tierney's injury record make you wary?

Let us know your thoughts, external

We asked for your views on Celtic's 3-0 derby defeat against Rangers at Ibrox.

Here's what some of you said:

Eamon: Worst performance of the season by a long way. Rangers wanted it more. Can't think of any player that put in a shift. The important thing now is how Celtic react. A couple of convincing wins will put us back on an even keel and let's see how Rangers go over the next two league games, the title can still be won in January.

Paul: A performance nobody could've predicted, but essentially every Celtic player contributed to their own downfall. None of them played to their full potential, letting Rangers dictate the game. Serious questions about the mentality of this Celtic side going forward, will it just be a minor blip or the beginning of a run of poor form?

Henry: Over-confident! Actually believing the league is won early January? Any team can have a bad game but lack of commitment, passion and workrate are no excuse for well-paid sportsmen. This defeat was certainly coming but the manner of it was shocking. Time for the manager to take notice.

James: Incredible! Despite no fans allowed we had 11 spectators on the pitch. Made an average team look good. When we're prevented from playing our A game we've no plan B. Still, they have the bragging rights for a few days but we'll have the silverware for years. Let's move on.

Ray: An off day indeed. Only Cameron Carter-Vickers gets pass marks. Some would say this was coming and the wayward passing of Liam Scales and Reo Hatate is a concern again. Stop the midfield playing and man-mark wide players and Celtic struggle.

Lee: Complacent, arrogant, lazy, just turned up. Same echo from an arrogant Brendan Rodgers interview, going to the lead in the league table rather than just being humble and accepting.

Brendan Rodgers' side "never looked like scoring" against a makeshift Rangers defence at Ibrox and need to react strongly to the chastening derby loss, says Asim Rabbani from A Celtic State of Mind.

Listen to all the derby reaction on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast

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Nicolas Raskin says it was "unfair" that Celtic captain Callum McGregor avoided a second yellow card for their tussle in Rangers' 3-0 derby win at Ibrox.

McGregor was on a booking when he became embroiled in a scuffle with stand-in Rangers skipper Raskin on the stroke of half-time, with the hosts leading 1-0. The pair grabbed hold of each other, although McGregor appeared to be far less aggressive.

Referee Don Robertson opted to only book Raskin, who later said: "I just didn't understand. McGregor and me, we had some contact.

"I think the referee wanted to book us both, but then looked at him and remembered he had a yellow and then just booked me.

"So it was a bit unfair for me, because if you book me, you have to book him. We've both done the same thing. So it's just a bit weird.

"I was calm. I was just explaining to the ref that it's unfair, because if you want to book, you book both players, you don't book one and not the other one.

"The ref explained to me that he just didn't really see but then you book no one, or you book both."

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• Rangers have beaten Celtic for the first time in the Premiership since 13 May 2023, a run of five games without a win.

• Celtic attempted four shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers' 24 shots is the highest tally Celtic have faced in a league game since the Scottish top flight was rebranded in 2013-14.

• Ianis Hagi scored his first goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 21 May 2023 against Hibernian.

• Celtic ended the game with an xG of just 0.07, while Rangers had an xG of 2.13.

• Danilo has contributed to goals in his last four home games in the Premiership (two goals, two assists).

What did you make of the derby defeat at Ibrox?

We want your views on a rare off day for Celtic - have your say here, external.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It was not a very good performance. We made too many mistakes, especially in the first half on the ball. That invited pressure. We trapped ourselves in too many areas.

"From that, 1-0, it gives the stadium a lift. Rangers were the better team today. It was very unlike us. We were not aggressive enough without the ball. Too many duels [lost] and moments where they could then break out of pressure. On the ball, it was far too slow.

"The game is a disappointment. I'm not sure if the 14-point gap took the edge off, it shouldn't, but maybe subconsciously it can do. We did not play well and Rangers deserved to win.

"It was one of those days. They are not robots. The energy in the stadium, they wanted to prove a point, they hadn't beaten us and they are so far behind in the league, so there are many reasons why."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Celtic came into this in as good a place as you can get. All the pressure was on their opponents and Brendan Rodgers knew it.

In the opening couple of minutes it looked like they would seize the initiative. That was an entirely false dawn as Rangers took a grip and got a vital early lead.

They lacked precision in their passing, to a large extent because they were pressured.

Time and time again they gave up possession as Rangers harried and harassed. It was so unlike the Celtic we have seen this season.

They just couldn't muster an answer.

Rodgers' side have earned such a sizeable lead in the table that they will remain odds on to retain their title but this, and the manner of it, will undoubtedly hurt.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Greg Taylor has a love-hate relationship with Celtic.

The Scotland international is loved by manager Brendan Rodgers in an inverted left-back role that has produced as many league assists as much-lauded right-back Alistair Johnston, while being derided by some fans for being a weak link in defence.

Despite negotiations, Taylor has yet to agree a new contract and you imagine the newly-reported interest from Dinamo Zagreb will not be the only one to emerge until his future is settled.

Celtic and Taylor will also be taking into consideration Alex Valle's preference to return to Barcelona at the end of his loan and the possibility of persuading Kieran Tierney to return to Glasgow when his Arsenal contract ends this summer.

Meanwhile, Rodgers has hinted that he is keen to take up the option of extending Kasper Schmeichel's contract given the goalkeeper's continued excellence at the age of 38.

Read more: Premiership summer free agents facing uncertain January

Scotland defender Kieran Tierney, 27, tells Celtic what his position is amid a possible return to Glasgow as he enters the final six months of his contract at Arsenal. (Team Talk), external

Meanwhile, Celtic are hoping to organise a new contract for winger Nicolas Kuhn, 25. (Record), external

Defender Cameron-Carter Vickers, 27, is content at Celtic despite reported interest from Bayer Leverkusen. (Sky Sports via MSN, external)

Los Angeles FC are close to signing Celtic midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, 21, on loan. (Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has "real empathy" for Rangers manager Philippe Clement as the sides prepare to go head to head on Thursday 2 January.

The reigning champions travel to Ibrox 14 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, with the chance to go 17 points ahead if they win.

Clement has come under sever pressure in recent games after his side dropped points away to St Mirren and Motherwell.

"I have empathy for every manager and coach," Rodgers said.

"Until the spotlight is on you, you can never begin to imagine what it feels like.

"Until you're charged with leading a team and a club and what comes with that then you'll never truly get the grasp of it.

"For every coach and manager, I have real empathy. At times you are biting your tongue, you're having to listen or acknowledge people who couldn't manage their way out of an empty room.

"All you can do and know about football management, all the words mean nothing, you deliver on the pitch. Your deeds on the pitch are what bring you success."