Football tips: Our mega 32/1 Bet Builder for Rangers v Celtic in the Old Firm Derby

Our top tipster Shane O'Brien can't split the Glasgow giants ahead of Sunday's lunchtime showdown.

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The Scottish title race appeared all but over after Celtic’s opening day defeat to Hearts, but it has been blown wide open thanks to a massive slump in form from Rangers. Steven Gerrard’s side were undefeated in 40 league games before they slumped to defeat at Dundee United earlier in August.

That defeat was just the tip of the iceberg for Rangers, who were dumped out of the Champions League qualifiers by Malmo three days later, surrendering their 1-0 lead on the night despite playing with a man advantage for an entire half. They have since returned to winning ways, but they have hardly been convincing, squeaking past Armenian champions Alashkert in the Europa League qualifiers and conceding two goals at Ross County in a 4-2 win.

Sunday midday – Rangers v Celtic
Sky Sports Football

To put that into context, that is more than 15% of the goals they conceded in their entire league-winning campaign last season. They now face a rejuvenated Celtic side that won six games on the bounce after that defeat to Hearts, scoring 24 goals in the process.

Celtic have won 6-0 in each of their last two league games and overcame a stern challenge from AZ Alkmaar to qualify for the Europa League. They may have lost their second leg in Holland on Thursday but will care little now that they have qualified for the Europa League proper.

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The Draw

Celtic will likely be far fresher on Sunday, considering they are returning from the Netherlands while Rangers must trek back from Armenia. A draw would be a good result for Rangers in the circumstances.

Both teams to score

Celtic failed to score on all three of their visits to Ibrox last season against an almost impregnable Rangers but will be confident of putting that right on Sunday. Despite the gulf in class between the two last season, Neil Lennon’s Celtic actually dominated two Old Firms at Ibrox and were desperately unlucky not to score in a league meeting in January and a Scottish Cup meeting in April.

They already look a far more ruthless side under Ange Postecoglou and are more than capable of breaching a Rangers rearguard that has not looked as watertight at this early stage of the season.

However, Celtic have been far too porous at the other end to hope to keep a clean sheet in what will be a highly charged atmosphere given that it is the first Old Firm played in front of fans in almost two years.

Liel Abada to score anytime

Although it is still at a very early stage of the season, the signings of Liel Abada and Kyogo Furohashi appear to have been revelations for Celtic. Both players have hit the ground running since moving to Celtic Park, scoring a combined 11 goals in all competitions.

Abada scored his first league goals for Celtic at the weekend with a brace against St. Mirren, and the teenager appears to have developed a knack for scoring important goals even at this early stage of his Celtic career. The Israeli youngster put Celtic ahead in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier with FC Midtjylland and additionally fired in the opener in their first leg against Jablonec.

His brace against St. Mirren also proved to be the first two goals in the 6-0 drubbing and he will clearly not shy away from the big occasion at Ibrox on Sunday. He has become a nailed-on starter during his short career at Celtic Park, so should have plenty of time to impress on Sunday.

Alfredo Morelos to score anytime

Morelos has been Rangers’ shining light through this period of poor form. The Colombian forward put Gerrard’s side ahead in their second leg with Malmo and scored the winner in their unconvincing first-leg win over Alashkert to put Rangers on the verge of Europa League qualification.

Morelos toiled against Celtic for years, failing to score in his first 14 Old Firms, but he put that right last season, scoring in a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park in March and grabbing the winner in a 1-0 victory at Ibrox in May. Rangers will hope that he can score against Celtic for the third league game running on Sunday.

Rangers v Celtic tips

The Draw
Both teams to score
Liel Abada to score anytime
Alfredo Morelos to score anytime

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