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Celtic v Ross County
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Competition: Scottish Premiership
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Kick off: 12:30
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Watch live: Sky Sports Main Event
Celtic will celebrate last season’s Scottish Premiership title success as they open the 2023/24 season with an encounter against Ross County at Parkhead.
The Hoops will be presented with the flag to celebrate last term’s glory, but this is also an opportunity to see a new-look side that is under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers following the departure of Ange Postecoglou to Tottenham in the summer.
Facing them is a Ross County side that achieved the seemingly impossible by securing survival last term. Trailing 3-0 on aggregate in the second leg of the playoff final, the Staggies scored three times in the last 19 minutes to take the game to extra-time and a penalty shootout that they won.
The home side start as strong favourites to get three points, and these Celtic v Ross County bet builder tips reflect that.
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ABC’s 20/1 bet builder
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ABC’s 4/1 bet builder
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Celtic enter a new era
Brendan Rodgers’ return to Celtic has not gone down unanimously well with the home supporters, some of whom even boycotted last weekend’s friendly with Athletic Club. These ultras groups will be back to generate the type of atmosphere expected around the ground, but any Celtic v Ross County predictions should be made with the knowledge that they could easily turn against their side.
The Northern Irishman’s last stint in charge began with an infamous defeat to Lincoln Red Imps in Champions League qualifying but ultimately proved a roaring success. The former Leicester boss can ill-afford such an embarrassing beginning to his second tenure in Glasgow’s East End.
Getting a quick start to the new season is, therefore, vital for Celtic. The Hoops were a formidable first-half team last season, going in at the break ahead in 24 of their 38 matches and doing so with a goal difference of +38. This is the standard that Rodgers is expected to meet.
He will do so with a relatively settled side, in which Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda, and Kyogo Furuhashi all signed new deals. Of their key players from last season, only Jota has departed. The deal to sell the quicksilver Portuguese winger to Al-Ittihad has, however, funded the arrivals of several new players. Despite this, the starting XI should have a relatively familiar feel as Celtic enter this new era.
Celtic team news
Saturday’s Celtic v Ross County bet builder tips are conditioned around the home side having a strong team to pick from.
We had a tremendous season last year, but we have to park that. It’s a new manager, some new players and a fresh test of mentality, quality and finding a way to win.”
Callum McGregor on how Celtic must approach the new campaign after last year’s success.
Starting right-back Alistair Johnston and Yuki Kobayashi are missing in the defence. New signing Marco Tilio is also sidelined.
For your Celtic bet builder, bear in mind Anthony Ralston and Cameron Carter-Vickers, though fit, missed much of preseason and could see reduced minutes as a result.
Damage limitation already?
Ross County have been handed a nightmare start to the Premiership season, with former Celtic defender Malky Mackay taking his side down the A9 to the home of the champions.
Unlike the home side, Ross County already have four competitive matches under their belts in the League Cup. These all came against lower league opponents, and though qualification was assured, they let a lead slip late on against League One Kelty Hearts last weekend and were denied a seeded berth for the last 16.
After narrowly avoiding the drop, they have strengthened by adding leading Championship players Scott Allardice and Kyle Turner to their midfield, while St Mirren duo Jay Henderson and Eamonn Brophy have arrived.
Moreover, Mackay has talked several players up from England, with Josh Reid arriving from Coventry, James Brown signing from Blackburn and Will Nightingale joining on loan from AFC Wimbledon.
With a new-look team, this promises to be a baptism of fire.
Ross County team news
Ross Callachan and Ben Paton continue to miss out for County, who navigated their League Cup matches without any major injuries.
I still expect a team who will press us, a team who will try and score goals, try and be exciting for the fans, and who will want the ball. I don’t expect too much difference in terms of that.”
Malky Mackay on whether he is expecting Brendan Rodgers to set up differently to previous Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou
They are in the market for new players. Arsenal striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji has been linked – rumours dismissed by the manager – but new defenders is what Malky Mackay really needs. This lack of defensive talent is reflected in our Celtic v Ross County bet builder tips.
Celtic v Ross County Cheat Sheet
Celtic are obviously heavy favourites for this one, but the Cheat Sheet provides plenty of intriguing options for your bet builders ahead of this game.
Jordan White commits more fouls than any other County player and will be up against Greg Taylor, who draws more fouls than any Celtic player. Cards or foul selections look a good shout for White in a game where County will likely see very little of the ball, and be forced to spend much of the game defending.
Daizen Maeda commits an impressive number of fouls given his limited minutes, at a shade under 2 a game. He will be in close proximity to County’s Jack Baldwin, who draws the most fouls for his side by a distance.
With the atmosphere rocking, and the players doubtless keen to get off to the best possible start under their new manager, Maeda could represent a good value option for either a foul or a card.
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ABC’s 4/1 Celtic v Ross County bet builder
🏆 Celtic (-1 Handicap)
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Odds: 1.30
Brendan Rodgers would talk about his desire for a “relentless” Celtic side during his first spell at the club, and that is what he will be aiming for this time around.
This attitude was underlined with the manner that they put Ross County to the sword during his first spell at the club. Indeed, they won all three home matches by at least two goals, underling why so many Celtic v Ross County predictions heavily favour the hosts.
The one-sided nature of the fixture has continued since he departed, with the Hoops winning five of the last six between these clubs by at least two goals. In eight of the last 10 Parkhead meetings, this would be a winner for a Celtic bet builder.
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⚽ Both teams to score
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Odds: 1.91
Ross County will travel to Celtic Park with a sense of trepidation, but they should have confidence in their attack to be able to breach the home team. This is a team, after all, that finished the League Cup group stage with 13 goals scored in four matches.
Recent Celtic v Ross County stats show the Highland side are capable of scoring here. Three of the last meetings between these sides have seen both clubs score – including County’s last visit.
For a Celtic bet builder, remember the home side have only been shut out twice by Ross County in 17 home matches against this opponent and just once in the league.
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⚽ Daizen Maeda to score anytime
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Odds: 1.90
Noted for being erratic at times in front of goal, Daizen Maeda is one of the players who could have life breathed into him by Rodgers at Celtic. Certainly, the Hoops will want a greater return than the eight league goals he managed last season.
There is optimism this will come, though. This is evidenced by the fact that he scored a hat-trick in a remarkable 6-4 friendly defeat against Yokohama this summer.
He is also likely to get plenty of minutes in this game. He was often used as a bit-part player under Ange Postecoglou, but he started against Athletic Club in a wink to how Rodgers will align his side this weekend, and without Jota to compete with him is in line for more minutes until the Portuguese is replaced.
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ABC’s 20/1 Celtic v Ross County bet builder
🏆 Celtic (-2 Handicap)
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Odds: 1.91
Rodgers and Celtic will ideally be after a big win to quell all the noise around his return to the club, switching the narrative to a positive one. Ross County are the ideal opponents for them to do this against.
Although the visiting side do appear to have strengthened over the summer, they still appear to be very much in the mould of a bottom-six club and, after several new arrivals, are unlikely to be close to their peak for several weeks yet.
Two of their last three home matches against the Staggies have ended in victories of three or more goals, and they’ve got an incentive to win big this time.
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⚽ Both teams to score
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Odds: 1.91
Ross County will travel to Celtic Park with a sense of trepidation, but they should have confidence in their attack to be able to breach the home team. This is a team, after all, that finished the League Cup group stage with 13 goals scored in four matches.
Recent Celtic v Ross County stats show the Highland side are capable of scoring here. Three of the last meetings between these sides have seen both clubs score – including County’s last visit.
For a Celtic bet builder, remember the home side have only been shut out twice by Ross County in 17 home matches against this opponent and just once in the league.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
🟨 Will Nightingale to be shown a card
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Odds: 3.75
Ross County’s new centre-back Will Nightingale has spoken about his motivation for playing at Celtic Park, but it is sure to be a massive test for the AFC Wimbledon loanee.
It looks likely he will start this match – he has played the full 90 minutes in each of Ross County’s last two games – and while he has yet to be booked for his new club, he had a habit last season of getting the attention of referees.
In League Two, he was shown six yellow cards in 22 matches, including four in his last 10 encounters for the club. On Saturday, he finds himself up against a higher calibre of opponent – livewire Kyogo Furuhashi is liable to start in attack – and that may well see him drawn into the type of error that will see him cautioned.
At 3.6, he looks good value for a big Ross County bet builder.
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* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing *
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