Celtic

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Rangers on Thursday.

Here are the main points:

• Rodgers knows doing well in derby means a lot to the players and stresses their committed to getting the victory and putting on a performance worthy of a win - "the players know how to win in this game".

• The Celtic boss admits he treats every Old Firm game like it's his first but understands "what it takes and what it means to win this game".

• Having no Celtic fans at Ibrox doesn't change his approach but the boss is hopeful this will be "the last one" without away supporters - "a Celtic support there or not there, we want to control the game

• On whether the pressure is on Rangers, who could go 17 points behind Celtic, Rodgers stresses "we will always assume the pressure, we put ourselves under pressure in the game" and insists nothing changes, regardless of the points gap.

• Rodgers adds his players "always stay in a humble way" to prepare for these games "we cannot soften up and we wont' soften up".

• The Celtic manager admits he has empathy for opposition coach Philippe Clement - "I have empathy for every manager and coach - until the spotlight is on you, you can never being to imagine what it feels like."

• Rodgers knows it's "a huge measure of any manager", getting a victory in these games and stresses winning against your greatest rivals is very important.

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Celtic captain Callum McGregor is eyeing up another derby goal as his side prepare for a trip to Ibrox on 2 January.

The Parkhead club edged out their Glasgow rivals on penalties in the League Cup final earlier this month but cruised past Philippe Clement's side at Parkhead the first time the sides met this season.

McGregor scored Celtic's third goal in their 3-0 victory that day.

When asked what it would mean to the midfielder to score in the derby again, he said: "It's an amazing feeling.

"The game at home we were really dominant. Personally it was a great feeling [to score].

"It's a special game to play in, everybody who plays in it will tell you that. To score in it, you feel 10 feet tall, you feel on top of the world anybody will tell you that.

"If there's an opportunity that comes for me then great but I just want my team to win the game.

"We want to win every game, especially when the big ones come around.

"That's where we're judged, we're judged on these games and our success rate in these games.

"It has to become normal for us to arrive in big moments."

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Alistair Johnston is relishing the opportunity to feature in another Old Firm derby.

The right-back made his Celtic debut in the fixture exactly two years ago and since then he's become a key player for champions, helping them lift six trophies in the process.

The 26-year-old is eager to step out at Ibrox again, with the chance to go 17 points clear at the top of the table.

"What an amazing two years it has been," Johnston said.

"What a great challenge, always going there to get a result. It's never an easy place to go.

"We know if we go and play our football, enjoy having the ball like we do, then we can go there and get a result.

"That is exciting as well. It's one of the biggest matches in world football. It's one of the reasons you sign here, you want to be playing in these matches.

"It feels more than just 90 minutes chasing a ball – a lot, lot more. It's bigger than that.

"I was lucky enough to get dropped into one two years ago and every time I get the chance to get out there and represent this club, you feel how important it is to the supporters and how lucky you are to get the chance to do that.

"It's another chance to go there and hopefully get a result against our biggest rivals and we'll see where it goes."

Scotland left-back Greg Taylor is a target for ambitious Dinamo Zagreb head coach Fabio Cannavaro, with the 27-year-old now able to talk to clubs with less than six months remaining of his Celtic contract and looking increasingly unlikely to sign a new deal. (Daily Record), external

Celtic would love to lure Kieran Tierney back to the club and are working on a deal to sign the Scotland defender on a pre-contract deal in January, with the 27-year-old out of favour with Arsenal. (Football Insider), external

Portuguese winger Jota, who is yet to play a full 90 minutes under manager Jorge Sampaoli, came off the bench for Stade Rennais this weekend to assist the final goal in a French Cup 4-1 rout of Bordeaux amid growing rumours of a shock return to Celtic for the 25-year-old. (Glasgow Times), external

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has confirmed he will hold talks over his Celtic future next month with the 38-year-old out of contract next summer. (Scottish Sun), external

Celtic are ready to let 24-year-old Stephen Welsh join Belgian club Mechelen on loan while bringing fellow centre-half Dane Murray back from his loan with Queen's Park amid Premiership and English interest in the 21-year-old. (Daily Record), external

Celtic are keen on midfielder James McAtee, who has struggled for game time with Manchester City, but will find it tough to compete with interest from Crystal Palace, Fulham and West Ham United should the 22-year-old be made available for a loan or permanent deal this summer. (Football Insider), external

Fiorentina and Lazio have offered a pre-contract deal to Burnley captain Josh Brownhill, the 29-year-old who is also wanted by Celtic and Rangers if the midfielder becomes a free agent in the summer. (The Boot Room), external

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers wants to add an additional goal threat to his squad during the January transfer window. (The Scotsman), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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• Rangers have enjoyed only one win in their last 14 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D4 L9), a 3-0 league victory in May 2023 under Michael Beale.

• After losing all four of their away games against Rangers in all competitions in 2021, Celtic have since lost just one of five away Old Firm derbies (W2 D2).

• Celtic have scored the opening goal in nine of the last 10 league Old Firm derbies, the only exception coming when Rangers did so in May 2023 (3-0 win). The side going 1-0 up lost none of those 10 fixtures (W7 D3), with the last to do so in the Scottish Premiership being Rangers in April 2022.

• Celtic have only lost their opening league game of a calendar year in one of the last 27 years (W20 D6), although that was away at Rangers in 2021 (1-0).

• Rangers have only lost their first league game of a calendar year in one of the last 13 years (W10 D2), a 1-2 defeat to Kilmarnock in 2019.

• Rangers' James Tavernier and Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi both have six goals in league Old Firm derbies. Since the Scottish Premiership began in 2013, only Odsonne Édouard (seven) has netted more times in this fixture in the division.

• Rangers boss Philippe Clement is yet to beat Celtic in six attempts in all competitions in charge of the club (D2 L4); the only manager to go as long or longer before winning an Old Firm derby (for either side) is William Wilton with the Gers from 1890 to 1893 (first eight).

• Celtic's Daizen Maeda has scored three goals in his last five appearances against Rangers in all competitions, this after only netting once in his first 12 Old Firm derby appearances prior.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Celtic's 4-0 win against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK users only).

With the January transfer window fast approaching, where does your club need to strengthen?

Who do you want brought in and who - if anyone - is it time to ship out?

Tell us your dream transfer window, external

We asked for your views on Celtic's 4-0 win against St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you said:

John F: It's difficult, if not impossible, to see any team mount any kind of league challenge. In this mood and with the quality of squad Celtic have we are on a different level to every other Scottish team, frighteningly for the others and with the Champions League in mind we will most probably strengthen in January's transfer window.

Stephen: This was one of my favourite performances in the league this half season. I thought Alex Valle and Arne Engels were superb, with Paulo Bernardo doing a good job covering for our captain. I still feel that we are a bit off it up front, but it's more to do with the lack of service to Kyogo Furuhashi, who showed yet again what he can do when he gets a sniff of an opportunity.

John T: Having the luxury of reducing the minutes of some big hitters, all of whom do a lot of running in our system, whilst still picking up three points, four goals and a clean sheet, is outstanding. We go to Ibrox with confidence. With the current form of both sides, it could get messy for Rangers if Celtic take the lead on Thursday.

John M: Another relentless performance from Celtic, the visitors defended well but once the first goal went in it was always going to end one way.

Gordy: A magnificent performance and a magnificent attitude from the players, they played as if they were playing a title challenger and not the team at the bottom, it's all down to the manager who will not let the standards drop, we need to get his contract sorted out after Ibrox where I believe we will show how big the gap is between us and the rest.

Neil: You have to say the rotation recently has been fantastic. Players sitting out and coming in have all performed brilliantly. It's a credit to Rodgers and one of the main reasons we have all but won the league. Treat to watch.

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• Celtic are undefeated in their last 27 games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 1 October 2022 to 7 May 2023.

• St Johnstone failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Rangers on 18 February 2024.

• Celtic have kept a clean sheet in each of their last six games in the Premiership, a run of 606 minutes without conceding a goal.

• St Johnstone have lost their last four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 13 April 2024 to 11 May 2024.

Watch all the highlights from Celtic's 4-0 victory over St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK users only).

Celtic took another seemingly decisive step towards retaining their Scottish Premiership title with a comfortable victory over bottom-placed St Johnstone.

The win extends their domestic unbeaten run this season, having dropped points just twice at the halfway stage of the league campaign

This outcome widens their lead lead over closest rivals Rangers to 14 points before a trip to Ibrox on Thursday.

Celtic fans, were you at Parkhead or were you following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say on the game., external

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Scotland: "You have to always give credit to the other team, there is two teams in a game, but I thought from minute one we were outstanding.

"From the first to the 94th minute I was so pleased with the level, purely from a mentality perspective. We kept going right to the very end.

"That's the real joy I have, our approach is very systematic, the players know what the demands are and they go in and give everything to produce the performance.

"We're not even at the half way point in the league but what I can say is that when you're in this position, I can only give a huge testament to the players because of the work, the mindset, they know they're in a safe place because they know they can lose games. We ask the players to take risks and if they do we know we can lose games in the right way.

"When you look at all the numbers and stats, this will be one of the exceptional years in the history of Celtic.

"It's great for the supporters, they can see how hard the team is working."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Another win for Celtic as their domestic dominance shows absolutely no sign of relenting.

With captain Callum McGregor rested along with Daizen Maeda it did little to affect the outcome such is the armoury Brendan Rodgers can utilise.

To have breached a half century of goals at the halfway stage of the Premiership really says it all.

They carry such threat and even if, as in this game, there is initial resistance from their opponents, they nearly always find a way.

A trip to play Rangers on 2 January follows and on this form, with the strength of squad they possess, that could be defining.

They are in a fantastic place with everything seemingly going their way.

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Arne Engels was firing in cracking deliveries all afternoon at Parkhead. He set up Kyogo Furuhashi's second goal and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself.

Celtic are in a long queue of clubs keen on 22-year-old Manchester City midfielder James McAtee, which includes five Premier League sides as well as Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta. (TBR Football), external

Celtic are monitoring Chelsea midfield pair Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka but there is English Premier League interest in both players. (Football Insider), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston is trying to shake off a minor hip issue, while winger James Forrest is out until January with a foot complaint.

St Johnstone remain without Barry Douglas, Uche Ikpeazu, Cammy MacPherson and Sam McClelland.

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With 24 goal contributions in 24 games this season, it would be fair to say Celtic's Nicolas Kuhn is having the season of his life.

The German winger has arguably been the player of the season in Scotland so far but the 24-year-old insisted that his only ambition for the rest of the season is to stay fit.

"I don't really set targets," Kuhn said. "The most important thing for me is to stay fit after a full pre-season with the team.

"I have felt fit all season so hopefully it will be fine and I am back 100% soon.

"This has been my best return now and there are still a lot of games to come."

Kuhn was subsituted at half-time in the 3-0 win over Hibs a few weeks ago, and completely missed the goalless draw with Dundee United before returning to score from the bench against Motherwell.

"You can't play in all of them but I am happy to be back and I want to continue," Kuhn added. "My ambitions are just to stay fit and keep going.

"It was still a bit painful but it was good to be back. The goal was not the nicest I've scored but I will take it.

"It's nice to pick up where I left off. I just tried to continue the way I've started this season and I was happy to get the goal. But the most important thing was the three points."

Kuhn leads Celtic's charts for both goals and assists, with 13 and 11 respectively.

"I feel good. I am really happy at the club, with the team and all the people here. I enjoy playing.

"Do I have a taste for goals? Yes. Maybe at the end I could have taken another shot but I wanted to get the assist. It's nice to assist too."

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• Celtic have won 26 of their last 30 meetings with St Johnstone in all competitions (D4) since a 1-2 defeat in May 2016 under Ronny Deila.

• St Johnstone are winless in 16 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D4 L12) since a 1-0 win in March 2015 under Tommy Wright courtesy of Daniel Swanson's goal.

• Celtic have won their final league match in each of the last four calendar years - including a 3-1 win over St Johnstone in 2021 - since losing 2-1 to Rangers in 2019.

• St Johnstone have only won their final league match in one of the last nine calendar years (D3 L5), a 2-0 win over Dundee in 2018.

• Kyogo Furuhashi has been directly involved in nine goals in his last six league appearances against St Johnstone for Celtic, scoring six and assisting a further three.

Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is of interest to reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen but no offer has been made for the 26-year-old USA international. (Larry Henry Jr on X), external

Luis Palma is facing a potential exit from Celtic in January, with the Honduras winger, 24, struggling for game time under manager Brendan Rodgers. (The Herald, external - subscription required)

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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