MX23RW : Wednesday, June 12 13:22:43| >> :120:64717:64717:
[monks data]
Celtic logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 1
Apr 10, 2021 at 3pm UK
Celtic Park
Livingston logo

Celtic
6 - 0
Livingston

Forrest (30'), Turnbull (38'), Fitzwater (50' og.), Elyounoussi (54', 66'), Christie (87')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Celtic vs. Livingston - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Livingston, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Celtic will be looking to secure their 19th Scottish Premiership victory of the season when they host Livingston on Saturday afternoon.

The Hoops have drawn their last two league matches, while the Lions have failed to win any of their last three away games, conceding seven goals in the process.


Match preview

Celtic's Mohamed Elyounoussi celebrates scoring against Aberdeen on November 1, 2020© Reuters

Celtic began the month of April with a 3-0 victory against League One side Falkirk in the third round of the Scottish Cup last weekend.

Second-half strikes from James Forrest, Ryan Christie and Mohamed Elyounoussi helped the Hoops secure a comfortable win on home soil which has set up a fourth-round clash against Old Firm rivals Rangers.

John Kennedy's side now turn their focus back to the Scottish Premiership as they aim to finish the campaign strongly and take positive momentum into next season.

Celtic have only lost one of their 25 top-flight league matches against Livingston, but five of the last eight Scottish Premiership matches between the two sides have been drawn, including their last two meetings this season.

The Hoops, who have only lost one of their last 12 home league games, will finish in second place this season if they were to win on Saturday as third-placed Hibernian would not be able to catch them.

Rangers defender Filip Helander gets a shot away in the Scottish Premiership clash with Livingston on August 16, 2020© Reuters

Like Celtic, Livingston also progressed from the third round of the Scottish Cup last weekend, although their victory was not as convincing.

The Lions had to come from behind against Championship side Raith Rovers and were forced into extra time, before substitute Matej Poplatnik scored in the 109th minute to secure a slender 2-1 win, edging David Martindale's men into the fourth round.

Livingston travel to Celtic Park having never won a top-flight match there in 13 previous visits, drawing twice and losing the other 11.

One of those draws, however, was a goalless encounter this season, and Martindale will be hoping that his side have learnt from their last meeting and can take advantage of an inconsistent and unpredictable Celtic side this weekend.

It is still mathematically possible for Livingston to match their highest ever finish in the Scottish Premiership and climb to third in the table, replicating their achievement back in the 2001-02 campaign.

A surprise victory for the Lions at Celtic Park would move them two points behind Aberdeen in fourth if they were to lose to St Johnstone.

Celtic Scottish Premiership form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D

Celtic form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • W

Livingston Scottish Premiership form:
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D

Livingston form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W


Team News

Celtic's Odsonne Edouard shoots at goal against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on March 21, 2021© Reuters

Celtic boss Kennedy is set to name a strong side this weekend and is likely to make changes to the team that beat Falkirk.

Centre-back Christopher Jullien remains out with a knee injury, while midfielder Nir Bitton is also unavailable with a groin problem.

Elyounoussi, Callum McGregor and Odsonne Edouard are three players who could return to the starting lineup.

Winger Forrest started and scored for the first time since mid-September against Falkirk and will be hoping to keep his place in the first XI on Saturday.

For Livingston, Martindale could name the same starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game this weekend.

Striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has only found the net twice in his last 11 appearances but is expected to start ahead of Poplatnik, who scored when he came off the bench last weekend.

Defender Alan Lithgow could be in contention to feature this weekend after 15 months out with a hip injury.

That news comes at a good time for the Lions, with Jack McMillan struggling with an ankle injury and Ciaron Brown having returned to parent club Cardiff City.

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Bain; Kenny, Welsh, Ajer, Laxalt; Brown; Turnbull, McGregor; Christie; Elyounoussi, Edouard

Livingston possible starting lineup:
McCrorie; Devlin, Fitzwater, Guthrie, Longridge; Bartley, Holt; Sibbald, Pittman, Forrest; Emmanuel-Thomas


SM words green background

We say: Celtic 2-0 Livingston

Even though Celtic's title charge is over and there are no relegations fears for Livingston, both sides will still be looking to finish this campaign strongly and put in a good performance on Saturday.

The Lions have frustrated the Hoops in their last two meetings, but we can see the hosts securing all three points in Glasgow.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



ID:442339:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10341:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Celtic win with a probability of 68.64%. A draw had a probability of 19.3% and a win for Livingston had a probability of 12.09%.

The most likely scoreline for a Celtic win was 2-0 with a probability of 12.88%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (12.34%) and 2-1 (9.54%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (9.14%), while for a Livingston win it was 0-1 (4.38%). The actual scoreline of 6-0 was predicted with a 0.7% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Celtic would win this match.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Celtic vs Livingston

Celtic
90.5%
Draw
9.5%
Livingston
0.0%
21
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe pictured on July 26, 2020
Read Next:
Celtic 'may have to wait longer for Eddie Howe arrival'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, June 14
 
8pm
Saturday, June 15
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 16
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 17
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 18
 
5pm
Wednesday, June 19
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Thursday, June 20
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Group Stage
Spain
vs.
Italy
Friday, June 21
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 22
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 23
 
8pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 24
 
8pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 25
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Wednesday, June 26
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 29
Sunday, June 30
Monday, July 1
Tuesday, July 2
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!