Celtic vs. Kilmarnock - Match Preview

Saturday 24th September

Kick Off: 15:00

Celtic Park

Celtic TV​

Following on from their 2-0 victory against Alloa in the Betfred Cup, Celtic once again turn their attention to the league with a match against Kilmarnock.


Celtic:

For Brendan Rodgers, the build up to this match has largely been defined by a series of selection dilemmas.

Leigh Griffiths returns from injury, but whether or not he'll start the match is subject to much speculation. Moussa Dembele has impressed in his last few matches and it would be unfair to boot him from his starting place immediately. In all likelihood, Griffiths will either be a substitute, or the manager will find a way to accommodate both him and Dembele in the starting lineup.

Next he'll have to decide between James Forrest and Patrick Roberts. With Scott Sinclair having nailed down the left wing role, Forrest and Roberts will have to battle it out for a starting spot on the right side. Going in to the match, Forrest is the man on form, with Patrick Roberts having struggled since returning from injury. However, we all know that Roberts is capable of pulling off something special, so Forrest's place isn't completely guaranteed.



Who will be between the sticks on Saturday?


However, the question of which goalkeeper to should play has been the main talking point going in to this match. Whilst Craig Gordon has been consigned to the bench in recent times, Brendan Rodgers gave him the nod on Wednesday night. Although he managed to keep a clean sheet, something Dorus de Vries has so far failed to do, a reckless tackle on Alloa forward Greig Spence, that arguably should have seen him sent off, will leave Brendan Rodgers questioning whether or not he can trust the Scottish international going forward. Although unlikely, perhaps given the lacklustre performances of both Gordon and de Vries, the manager may even consider giving either Logan Bailly or Leo Fasan a chance?



Kilmarnock:


The games against Kilmarnock last season, perhaps more than any other, highlighted the main problems plaguing our side - that being our defensive frailties and inability to break sides down. Kilmarnock currently sit ninth in the table, having drawn their last three league games, and Lee Clark's men will be hoping that they can turn that into a win against Celtic.



Could Coulibaly be the man to lead Kilmarnock to victory?


One player Celtic will need to wary of is Souleymane Coulibaly. The 21 year old Ivorian striker, who was one of Kilmarnock's eleven summer signings, is the Ayrshire side's leading goal scorer having netted three times in six games. Coulibaly has become a fan favourite almost overnight among Killie supporters, and a goal against Celtic on Saturday would certainly go a long way in reaffirming this.

Defensively, Kilmarnock haven't been too great, having conceded nine goals in their first six matches. This will certainly be a cause for concern for Lee Clark given that Celtic have already scored seventeen goals in five league matches. As such, his back line will need to be playing at their best if they want to avoid a thrashing.


Last Five Domestic Results:

Celtic: WDWWWW

Kilmarnock:DDDLWL