Celtic manager Neil Lennon says his team need to "show that desperation" if they are to get anything out of today's big game.

He tells Sky Sports: "For whatever reasons we need that hunger because we have been second best.

"Rangers have handled the pandemic better than most teams. They have been excellent."

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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard tells Sky Sports: "We need to be best version of ourselves. A lot of teams have come to Ibrox recently and posed big challenges and I expect today to be another one.

"I have confidence and belief that the players are about to deliver and if we do and we reach our height, I'm confident we'll get what we want.

"I want to have pace, bit of quality, guile, a bit of aggression in the front three."

Asked if Rangers will be facing a stronger Celtic than they did in the 2-0 win at Celtic Park in October, he said: "It's none of my business to be honest, I don't pick Celtic's team. We think they'll set up as a diamond; Edouard will filter off the left. Celtic have got what we want and we've got full respect for the opposition."

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What about Celtic's away form this term?

Neil Lennon's side have not lost on the road in the Premiership but there have been three draws - at Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and Hibs.

They have scored 23 on their travels and conceded eight in those nine games.

A horrendous Europa League group phase and a shock League Cup loss at home to Ross County resulted in a wretched autumnal run of two wins from 12. The ship has steadied since, with six wins (including that penalty shootout success against Hearts at Hampden).

The past four league outings have yielded 10 goals, with none conceded.

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Rangers' home record in the league is hugely impressive, with 10 wins from 10.

Goals for 32, goals against one. Yes, just one... Motherwell are the only domestic rival to score at Ibrox this season.

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Derek Ferguson
Former Rangers midfielder on Sportsound

Michael Stewart
Former Scotland midfielder on BBC Sportsound

That one loss for Celtic came in the last derby, when Rangers eased to a 2-0 success at Celtic Park on 17 October.

Rangers centre-back Connor Goldson scored both goals against a lacklustre and unfamiliar Celtic side shorn of four players due to Covid-19 protocols.

Celtic recently completed a remarkable quadruple treble with their delayed Scottish Cup victory over Hearts.

Neil Lennon's side have lost just once in the league - and do have three games in hand on their Glasgow rivals.

And yet hopes of a record-breaking 10-in-a-row are hanging by a thread.

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Rangers enjoy a 16-point lead following their best start to a campaign since 1928.

Steven Gerrard's men are looking for a 14th consecutive league win today.

They have lost just once in 32 games in all competitions which came in the League Cup away to St Mirren - but they have bounced back with four league wins on the trot since that shock defeat in Paisley.

Image source, BBC Sport

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Celtic captain Scott Brown is again among the Celtic substitutes. The 35-year-old midfielder has started the last 30 Old Firm derby games.

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Rangers will mark the 50th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster ahead of kick-off.

There will be tributes to remember the 66 fans who lost their lives in a crush at the stadium on 2 January 1971.

And manager Steven Gerrard has been urging fans to stay away and pay their respects from the safety of home.

"In a normal situation, we'd have a lot of people around the ground and we'd obviously put a full service on so we could pay our respects that way," he said yesterday.

"But because of Covid-19, things will look slightly different. However, as a club we still want to pay our full respects to everyone involved and to all the names that are no longer with us.

"It's a very special day, myself and the players are all aware of that - but I would ask all our fans to stay away. I know that's tough but we also have to pay respect to the situation we're all in at the moment and stay safe at home."

Rangers: McGregor, Tavenier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic,Davis, Kamara, Aribo, Kent, Roofe, Morelos.

Substitutes: McLaughlin, Bassey, Hagi, Defoe, Itten, Zungu, Barker, Helander, Patterson.

Celtic: Barkas, Frimpong, Bitton, Ajer, Laxalt, Soro, Christie, McGregor, Turnbull, Griffiths, Edouard.

Substitutes: Hazard, Taylor, Duffy, Brown, Ajeti, Rogic, Ntcham, Elhamed, Elyounoussi.

Celtic's Christopher Jullien does not make it after picking up an injury in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Dundee United.

Nir Bitton slots into central defence in the only change for the visitors.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard makes two changes to the side that started Wednesday's 2-0 win at St Mirren.

Winger Ryan Kent is reinstated and Leon Balogun is chosen in central defence as Ianis Hagi and Filip Helander drop to the bench.

Good morning. We have an Old Firm derby to kick off 2021 in the Scottish Premiership - and it's a biggie.

For runaway leaders Rangers, it's an opportunity to take a huge stride towards a first top flight title since 2010-11.

With Celtic a long way behind, it looks like a game the defending champions must win - or at the very least cannot afford to lose.

Five more Premiership matches will be along later at 15:00 but the focus for now is on the action at Ibrox.

Image source, BBC Sport