“The pre-season games were smooth” – Former Celtic striker PREDICTS the positions Celtic and Rangers will end with in the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season.

As the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season kicks off, football pundit and former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has made a bold prediction about the final standings of the league. After just four games, Sutton has tipped Celtic to claim their 55th league title, while Rangers are expected to finish in second place. His comments, delivered via Sky Sports, highlight the strong start from Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side and the challenges Philippe Clement’s Rangers are facing early in the season.

Celtic’s Strong Start Under Rodgers
Celtic has begun the new season with a perfect record, winning all four of their opening matches, including a dominant 3-0 victory over arch-rivals Rangers. This impressive start has seen Rodgers’ team yet to concede a single goal, a testament to the strength of their defense and overall squad depth. Sutton praised Celtic’s early form, crediting Brendan Rodgers for successfully returning to the club and swiftly getting the team back to their best.

“They’ve started the domestic season really strongly and fast,” Sutton said. “Brendan is back in his second season, and I think it has been a smooth pre-season for Celtic.”

Rodgers, who rejoined Celtic after a successful first stint between 2016 and 2019, seems to have maintained his winning touch. Sutton highlighted how critical the club’s summer recruitment has been to cope with the demands of both domestic and Champions League football.

“They’ll have to cope with the demands of Champions League football as well, hence why it was important to bring new players in,” Sutton noted. “Brendan’s strongest suit is coaching and developing players, so I think they’ll be happy with the work they’ve done in the window, and they’re still the team to beat.”

Rangers Struggling Under Clement
While Celtic has surged ahead, Rangers, under Philippe Clement, have had a rocky start. After four games, they find themselves down in fourth place, following a draw on the opening weekend against Hearts and a dismal 3-0 loss to Celtic in the season’s first Old Firm clash. Clement, in his second season in charge of Rangers, is working with a squad that underwent significant changes over the summer, and the team has yet to hit its stride.

Sutton addressed the difficulties Rangers have faced, pointing out that while Clement has made strides in rebuilding the squad, time is of the essence.

“Philippe Clement says Rangers will get better, but they are still a work in progress,” Sutton said. “There’s been such an overhaul and a messy summer, and they’re going to take time to gel.”

Rangers’ summer transfer activity saw a number of ins and outs, as Clement looked to reshape the team in his vision. However, Sutton emphasized that despite the rebuilding process, Clement is under pressure to deliver results this season, especially after inheriting a team in disarray last year.

“Whether Clement gets the time remains to be seen,” Sutton added. “He’ll want his team to be hanging on in there and just staying on Celtic’s coattails, but then, as the season progresses, look to really hit a rhythm and find his way past them. It’s fairer to judge Clement this season rather than last season when he inherited a real mess. This season, it’s his team, and there will be no excuses.”

The Title Race: Celtic in the Driver’s Seat
With Celtic off to a flying start and Rangers struggling to find consistency, Sutton believes it’s hard to look past Celtic for the title. The gulf between the two Glasgow giants was evident in their recent Old Firm derby, where Celtic cruised to a 3-0 win, leaving Rangers with much work to do to close the gap.

“It is hard to look past Celtic winning a fourth successive title in Scotland,” Sutton said. “The gulf between Rangers and Celtic was alarmingly large during their 3-0 Old Firm derby win, and Clement has a huge task to close the gap.”

While Sutton has tipped Celtic as favorites, he acknowledged that the challenges of balancing domestic and European commitments could potentially slow them down, offering Rangers a glimmer of hope. Champions League football is expected to test Celtic’s squad depth, and any potential slip-ups in the league could allow Rangers to stay within striking distance.

“Champions League football could slow Celtic down and allow Rangers back into the race,” Sutton noted. “But they have recruited well over the summer and should have enough depth to handle the extra matchdays.”

The Battle for Second: Can Rangers Hold Off Aberdeen?
While Sutton predicts that Celtic will emerge as champions, he also believes that Rangers will face fierce competition for second place, particularly from Aberdeen. The Dons have made an impressive start to their season and could pose a serious challenge to Rangers’ hopes of finishing as runners-up.

“Aberdeen are another to keep an eye on,” Sutton said. “They have made a blistering start to the season and could provide Rangers with some fierce competition for second, although it is hard to see them challenging any higher up than that.”

Aberdeen’s strong form early in the campaign has raised eyebrows, and while it remains to be seen whether they can sustain this level of performance throughout the season, their emergence as a top contender could add further pressure on Clement and Rangers. Should Rangers continue to falter, Aberdeen could capitalize and make a push for second place.

No Excuses for Rangers
Sutton’s analysis makes it clear that while Celtic is the team to beat, the spotlight is firmly on Rangers to improve and close the gap. Clement, who is in his second full season in charge, will be expected to produce results with a squad that has undergone significant changes. The pressure is on him to mount a credible title challenge and at least secure a second-place finish.

“There’s been a lot of turnover at Rangers, but that’s no excuse,” Sutton said. “This season, Clement’s team will have to perform, and Rangers will need to push Celtic all the way.”

Celtic’s dominance in recent years has made them the clear favorites to win the league again, but Rangers cannot afford to be left behind. While it may take time for Clement’s new-look side to fully gel, they will need to hit their stride sooner rather than later if they are to keep pace with their Glasgow rivals.

Conclusion
Chris Sutton’s prediction for the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season highlights the contrasting fortunes of Celtic and Rangers. While Celtic has made a blistering start and looks set to continue their dominance, Rangers are still finding their feet under Philippe Clement. Sutton has tipped Celtic to win the league, with Rangers finishing second, though Aberdeen could provide some stiff competition.

As the season progresses, much will depend on how both sides manage their domestic and European commitments. Celtic’s depth and quality make them the team to beat, but Rangers will be eager to close the gap and mount a serious challenge.