Unsurprisingly, Celtic are the corner kings of the Scottish Premiership this season. Brendan Rodgers’ side are averaging a shade over 9.5 flag-kicks per 90 in the Scottish top-flight this term. In their most recent outing with Aberdeen last weekend, the Hoops earned no fewer than 18 corners. In their seven league games prior to drawing with the Dons, Celtic have managed to reach a double figure corner return in three of those contests.

Thus, a minimum of six corners looks well within range when they visit North Lanarkshire this weekend. The Glasgow giants have covered the 6+ corner line in six of their eight Scottish Premiership matches this season. They have also hit six or more corners in each of their two outings in this season’s Scottish League Cup.

Motherwell conceded six corners when going up against Rangers at the start of the season, not to mention the likes of Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian and St Mirren have all followed suit.

Given that high-scoring affairs have been a recurring theme in Celtic games this season, siding with a goal in each half is an appealing option at Fir Park on Sunday. There has been at least one goal either side of the interval in six of the Hoops’ opening eight league games of the season. In fact, the net has rippled in each half in Celtic’s previous three league matches. Furthermore, Brendan Rodgers’ side have scored in both halves of the game in 50% of their Scottish top-flight outings this term to date.

Motherwell’s matches have also been goal-heavy this season, with six of their eight league games featuring over 2.5 goals. Add to that the fact that three of the hosts’ last six league games have seen a goal scored in each half, then there is plenty of scope for a repeat when the champions come to town.

Two or more Motherwell cards looks like a strong selection on Sunday given that Celtic will almost certainly dictate the tempo of the game. While the Steelmen have been one of the most well behaved sides in the Scottish Premiership this season, a visit from Celtic will represent their toughest test to date. What’s more, Stuart Kettlewell’s side have collected multiple cards in three of their last four league games, including a red in their recent home game with St Mirren. It’s also worth pointing out that Motherwell were shown two cards during their 2-1 home win over Dundee United in the Scottish League Cup last month.

As for Celtic, they have drawn two or more cards from seven of their 10 domestic challengers this term. Ross County were shown three yellow cards during the Hoops most recent Scottish Premiership road trip, while Aberdeen racked up five cautions in Glasgow last weekend. On top of all of that, both Slovan Bratislava and Borussia Dortmund went into the referee’s notebook on two or more occasions when going up against Brendan Rodgers’ side in the Champions League.

With Motherwell fancied to collect at least two bookings on Sunday afternoon, it makes plenty of sense to side with the home team to receive the most cards during this contest. Brendan Rodgers’ side have picked up a league-low 10 yellow cards across their opening eight Scottish Premiership games of the season.

That has coincided with the Bhoys receiving fewer bookings than that of their opponents in six of their opening eight league games of the campaign. Perhaps more surprisingly, the majority of Celtic’s yellow cards in the Scottish Premiership have been picked up at their Parkhead base. Rodgers’ side have gone into the referee’s notebook on six occasions in front of their own supporters, while they have received just four on their travels thus far.

Another point to note is that Celtic came up against Motherwell three times in last season’s Scottish Premiership, with the Fir Park side picking up the most cards in two of those three tussles.

Celtic have found themselves in front at half-time in six of their eight Scottish Premiership matches this season. Brendan Rodgers’ side have a real knack for scoring early goals, as they showed last weekend when racing into a two-goal lead at the break against Aberdeen. What’s more, the Hoops have been ahead at the interval in three of their four Scottish Premiership away games this season to date.

After dropping points for the first time this season last Saturday, Motherwell could feel the wrath of the champions this weekend. Stuart Kettlewell’s side were trailing at the break when they came up against the other half of the Old Firm earlier this season. That was also the case when the Steelmen suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Dundee last weekend.

Look for Motherwell’s clash with Celtic on Sunday to feature three or more match goals. Goals tend to be a given in Celtic’s Scottish Premiership matches this season. A sizeable six of the Bhoys’ eight league games this term have generated three or more match strikes, including each of their last three on their travels. Brendan Rodgers’ side have covered the over 2.5 goal line on their own in two of their four Scottish Premiership away games this term, and likewise in two of their four Celtic Park assignments.

While Motherwell slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Dundee last weekend, that was just the second time this season that one of their league games failed to deliver over 2.5 goals. The Steelmen have struck against Rangers, Aberdeen and the two Edinburgh clubs this season, so they could land a blow on a Celtic defence that have conceded three times over their last two league games. With that in mind, over 2.5 goals looks well worth supporting at Fir Park

Kyogo Furuhashi struck against Aberdeen last weekend and he looks worth backing to repeat the trick against Mothewell on Sunday. The Japanese striker has hit four goals across his eight Scottish Premiership appearances this season. Those four goals have arrived over his last four starts in the league, and he should be presented with scoring opportunities against the Steelmen on Sunday.

Stuart Kettlewell’s team have failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous seven Scottish Premiership matches, with their solitary shutout coming against Ross County on the opening weekend of the season. That doesn’t augur well ahead of a visit from a Celtic side that have netted 24 times across their first eight top-flight games of the season. Thus, siding with Celtic’s biggest goal threat to get himself on the scoresheet on Sunday stands out at the odds on offer.

Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday looks like a prime candidate to pick up a card on Sunday afternoon. The 33-year-old has tackled his way into trouble in two of the Steelmen’s last three Scottish Premiership home games. He has committed one foul in six of his eight appearances in the top-flight this term, not to mention he was giving away an average of one free-kick per-90 last season.

Halliday, who is a self-confessed Rangers fan, may have no choice to up his aggression in an attempt to disrupt Celtic’s rhythm. He is likely to be tasked with trying to shackle classy Hoops playmaker Reo Hatate, who was fouled on four separate occasions against Aberdeen last weekend.