Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Were Livingston to create a little bit of club history and fashion their first ever win at Celtic Park, it would be the first time the Parkhead side has lost three league games on the trot since October 1994 when Tommy Burns was in charge.

Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland at Firhill

Two sets of Jags managed by two popular former strikers in Kris Doolan and Duncan Ferguson.

Hopefully that means it’s attacking intent from both sides to distract us from the wind and rain in Maryhill!

Partick Thistle can cut the deficit between them and second-placed Dundee United to four points with a win today, while Caley Thistle want to arrest a recent slump which has seen them lose three of their last four.

Special mention to Stevie Lawless as the hosts’ winger is making his 300th appearance for the club.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Sportsound: "I think we're very good at what we do when we press, but we have to come here and be very hard to beat.

"Hearts have players who can hurt you, none more so than Lawrence Shankland, so we have to make sure we're solid and build from that base."

On bringing in Alex Greive up front, Robinson says: "Alex gets the press better than any of the other strikers and he's also a goal threat."

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "It's been a while Craig [Levein] has been managing and you always get a competitive game against him.

"He's identified the best way for St Johnstone to get results. The team today is what we thought, they'll flood the pitch with midfielders.

"He's made them harder to play against. They have players that can hurt us, they don't need encouragement to get shots away. Since he's gone in, they've improved performances and results.

"It's up to us to impose ourselves on the game. There's not a lot between the teams, but we're where we are in the league for a reason. We need to demonstrate why today.

"I've got too many injuries at the moment for a busy schedule, but it's the same starting XI as last week. We've got a young bench and we're pushed for options. Hopefully we get a few more back for St Mirren."

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein tells BBC Sportsound: "It's an intense period. This will be a scrap today. It'll be good to see Derek, I've not seen him for a while.

"We'll try if we can to play, but it'll be difficult. The wind swirls a lot around this stadium, so when the wind gets up and it's pouring with rain, it can be quite difficult.

"We're improving. In every game there's been something I've been pleased with, which is evidence of improvement. We're getting better, that's encouraging. But as soon as you rest on your laurels in this game, you're in trouble.

"This will be an interesting game for me, this is about strength of character today."

Image source, SNS

Andy Burke
BBC Scotland at Rugby Park

There was a warm embrace between Derek McInnes and Craig Levein in the tunnel area, but that's about all that's warm at Rugby Park today.

There is a cold, swirling wind blowing around the stadium and the rain is teeming it down. Not conditions that would suggest we are in for an attractive game of football.

Fair play to the hardy few hundred souls who braved the weather to make it down from Perth.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Sportsound: "It's a very important game for us all. It's been disappointing results-wise and performance-wise, but we've talked it over and had a good week of training.

"We've had injuries, which means players who have been impact players playing for 20 or 30 minutes have ended up playing three consecutive games and that gives the team a lack of intensity.

"At this club you always need that desire every time you play, that mentality and conviction.

"Last week against Hearts we were nowhere near the tempo I'd expect from any of my teams - never mind a Celtic team.

"From the first whistle, we need to go after the game."

On the return the Green Brigade...

"This is an emotional stadium and when it's like that it really fires up the team. There's no doubt that's been missing.

"I'm sure we'll get a reaction and hopefully send the fans home happy for Christmas."

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

It is weird to suggest a manager of a table-topping side is under pressure? In Glasgow, it isn't.

Celtic have hit a sticky patch, while city rivals Rangers have gone 16 games unbeaten and narrowed the gap to two points with a game in hand.

Rodgers' side, meanwhile, have lost back-to-back league games away to Kilmarnock and at home to Hearts, which ended a 52-game unbeaten run at Celtic Park.

They are now looking to avoid a third straight top-flight defeat for the first time since 1994.

Livingston inflicting that would surely be unthinkable, considering David Martindale's side have not won in nine games.

The West Lothian side have also never won at Celtic Park, but they have managed three goalless draws at Parkhead down the years.

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith is pleased to have Craig Halkett in his starting XI for the first time as Tynecastle boss.

"What's been unfortunate is Barrie McKay, Craig Halkett and Craig Gordon are three big personalities and characters with great experience who have all been missing," Naismith told BBC Scotland.

"So when they've come back into the group it's been a positive for us. [Halkett] has been involved in training for a while and we've managed to get him minutes in games behind closed doors, now he's ready.

"In a busy schedule we're going to need all of the squad."

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We've got three games in the second tier to enjoy.

The top two played last night and it's as you were at the summit. Raith still lead by five points after their wild 4-4 draw with Ayr.

Dundee United couldn't take advantage of that though, playing out a goalless draw at Hampden with bottom side Queen's Park.

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Your view on the game of the weekend may differ, but for us it's at Tynecastle.

Fourth-placed St Mirren earned plenty of plaudits for their early season form and performances but have since struggled, managing just two wins in their past nine outings.

That's allowed Hearts to overtake them on goal difference, despite some fans still not being convinced with the style and tactics under Steven Naismith.

Last weekend's 2-0 win away to champions Celtic went some way to silencing the doubters - and establishing a three-point gap in third place would strengthen his case further.

Hearts will certainly fancy their chances given St Mirren's away form. Stephen Robinson's Buddies arrive without a win in seven outside Paisley. losing five in a row and failing to score in the latest four.

Livingston boss David Martindale says he's "just mixing it up" when asked about his change of goalkeeper and other alterations to his team.

"It was an intense game up at Aberdeen and the bus broke down on the way up as well, so the boys were sitting around for three hours more than they should have. Recovery time has been minimal at best.

"Shamal is the number one and I wanted to give him a wee break.

"It's going to be difficult. We know we'll have to be at the top of our levels to take anything today. This doesn't feel like a free hit, we need to start picking up points."

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Anyone at Celtic Park today will probably notice an increase of volume in the stadium.

That's because the Green Brigade are back.

The group's ban, imposed in October, has been lifted after they agreed to comply with "an updated Rail Seating Safety Code of Conduct".

Image source, SNS

From BBC Scotland's Kheredine Idessane...

There were flares, fireworks, banners and singing along London Road as the Green Brigade's organised march made its way to their usual section in the corner stand opposite me. The club will very much be hoping the pyro is kept outside, having asking the 'ultras' to accept and abide by a new code of conduct inside Celtic Park.

Referee David Munro, who was down to officiate the game at Dens Park today, has been speaking to BBC Scotland.

"I arrived this afternoon and when we went out to do our pitch inspection we realised there were concerns for player safety.

"There were several areas where there was standing water, which gave me concern for players safety, and I've had to postpone the match unfortunately. It was multiple areas giving me concern.

"All I can do is my inspection when I arrive at the ground."

Celtic v Livingston: The leaders are looking to avoid suffering three straight top-flight defeats for the first time since 1994 - when they lost to Hearts, Falkirk and Rangers - while Livi have never won in 19 visits to Celtic Park.

Hearts v St Mirren: The visitors have gone seven away games without a win, losing five in a row and failing to score in the last four.

Kilmarnock v St Johnstone: The away side are unbeaten in four games against Killie, but Derek McInnes has won his last four home games against sides managed by Craig Levein.

Allan Preston
Former Livingston manager on BBC Sportsound

I'm really surprised at Shamal George being dropped for Jack Hamilton. I'm just wondering if David Martindale is thinking 'we've never won here, I'll give Shamal a rest'.

Livingston have got two really big games coming up against Motherwell and St Johnstone.

There are plenty of moving parts on the go today.

Celtic will of course be aiming to stretch their lead at the top back to five points at home to bottom side Livingston, who are five points adrift.

Meanwhile, Hearts in third and are locked level on points with St Mirren. The pair meet at Tynecastle this afternoon. That's got potential.

Kilmarnock are unchanged after their draw with Livingston last weekend. Marley Watkins came off in the first half but has recovered to partner Kyle Vassell up top.

Kyle Magennis is out after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring problem against Livingston last week.

Ryan McGowan and Tony Gallacher come back into the St Johnstone defence, replacing Oludare Olufunwa and Andy Considine.

Sven Sprangler also drops to the bench, while Diallang Jaiyesimi is suspended after his red card in the defeat against Rangers.

They are both replaced by Graham Carey and Chris Kane.

Image source, SNS