Kilmarnock Vs. Celtic: Preview, Prediction, Lineups, Betting Tips, & Live Stream
League leaders Celtic will travel to Kilmarnock as they look to add to their unbeaten streak of 12 matches.
Last year’s champions are the favorites to retain the Scottish premiership this season, and with 31 points from 11 games played so far, they already a step closer than the rest to lift the trophy.
Kilmarnock, on the other hand, occupy the seventh position on the table, with 14 points from 13 matches.
Kilmarnock will be hoping that their time off the pitch during the two weeks break has added some energy to their side. The Killie only managed a stalemate at home to Hamilton Academical in the last game, making it two games without scoring a goal after their big loss to Rangers the weekend before.
Celtic has yet to lose a Premiership match whereas Kilmarnock has won only three, drawing and losing five matches each on their way. Celtic, of all teams, have the best offensive and defensive record this season, scoring 34 and conceding just eight.
One of the major news coming out of Scotland this season is the emergence of the young striker Moussa Dembele. The Frenchman has scored 14 goals in 18 games in all competitions, including seven in the Premiership and three in the UEFA Champions League.
Also making headlines these days is the continual rumors of former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard joining Celtic this January.
WATCH
Brendan Rodgers responds to speculation linking former @LFC captain Steven Gerrard with a move to #Celtic. pic.twitter.com/DIcNpQn8kT— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 16, 2016
Celtic: Team News
Brenden Rodgers’s team has shown no sign of any injuries ahead of this game. The players look fit and firing for the showdown against Kilmarnock. Scott Sinclair, the top scorer of the league, seems hungry to escalate his goal tally of nine.
Frontman Moussa Dembele is in scintillating form, having already scored seven to his name. He probably will lead the attack vs Kilmarnock. The new formation of 3-5-2 under Rodgers seems to work pretty well for Celtic back trio Lustig, Sviatchenko, and Simunovic, who are favorites to start against Kilmarnock as well.
Celtic Predicted Line-up vs Kilmarnock
Gordon — Lustig, Sviatchenko, Simunovic – Brown, Armstrong, McGregor, Roberts, Sinclair — Griffiths, Dembele
Kilmarnock: Team News
There is one less thing to worry about for manager Lee Clark: his team also remains untroubled by any injuries. Attacker Coulibaly, with six goals already written on his name, looks in phenomenal form this season.
However, the problems for Kilmarnock still remains in the striking position, as forward Kris Boyd hasn’t found his form yet. Defensively, too, Clark’s team has been struggling to nullify the opponents attack.
Kilmarnock Predicted Line-up vs Celtic
MacDonald — Smith, Addison, Boyle, Hendrie — Dicker, Taylor — Mckenzie, Coulibaly, Jones — Boyd
Kilmarnock Vs. Celtic: Head to Head (H2H)
Total games: 51
Celtic wins: 42
Kilmarnock wins: 3
Draws: 6
The reverse fixture of this game was a total humiliation for Kilmarnock as they were thrashed by the Hoops 6-1 at the Celtic Park.
Kilmarnock Vs. Celtic: Prediction
Celtic have been the best team all season long, so Kilmarnock are unlikely to turn around this fixture towards their side. Celtic attackers, mainly Sinclair and Dembele, are becoming more and more lethal as the season progresses and has already shared 16 goals among them. No team has been able to beat Rodger’s team this season and Kilmarnock, who are lingering at the middle of the table, don’t possess enough talents to overpower the league leaders. The only thing positive for Kilmarnock is that they will have their home fans supporting them this Friday. But, Celtic, with their unrelenting attack, won’t have many worries about defeating the hosts.
Predicted Score: Kilmarnock 1- Celtic 3
Kilmarnock Vs. Celtic: Betting Tips and Odds
- Kilmarnock win: 16/1
- A draw: 6/1
- Celtic win: 1/6
- Under 2.5 goals: 7/4
- Over 2.5 goals: 2/5
- Both teams to score: evens
- Both teams fail to score: 8/11
The odds were provided by Paddypower.
Kilmarnock Vs. Celtic: Live Stream
The match can be watched live streaming online in the link here.
The link will be updated just before kick-off.
[Featured Image by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images]
