Celtic Faces Motherwell in Scottish Premiership Clash Amid Injury Concerns
This Sunday, Celtic will travel to Fir Park to face Motherwell in a highly anticipated Scottish Premiership matchup. The Hoops currently sit atop the league table on goal difference, with 22 points from eight games, while Motherwell occupies fifth place.
Stuart Kettlewell’s side got off to a strong start this season but suffered a surprising defeat at home to Dundee last week. Celtic, meanwhile, is coming off a midweek Champions League fixture and will look to maintain their momentum in domestic competition.
Injury Update: Motherwell
As Motherwell prepares to host Celtic, they will be without several key players due to injury.
- Liam Donnelly: The midfielder remains sidelined with a long-term injury and is expected to miss several more weeks.
- Jake Carroll: The defender is still recovering from a knock sustained earlier this month and is doubtful for Sunday’s clash.
- Barry Maguire: The midfielder is struggling with a recurring injury and will likely miss the Celtic matchup.
- Ross Tierney: The attacking midfielder is out with a short-term injury and will not feature against Celtic.
Injury Update: Celtic
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will also be without several players due to injury.
- Kyogo Furuhashi: The Japanese striker remains sidelined with a long-term injury and is not expected to return until next month.
- Christopher Jullien: The defender is still recovering from a serious injury sustained last season and is unlikely to feature against Motherwell.
- Yuki Kobayashi: The Japanese defender is struggling with a minor injury and is doubtful for Sunday’s clash.
- Reo Hatate: The midfielder missed Celtic’s midweek Champions League fixture and remains uncertain for the Motherwell matchup.
Key Matchups and Tactical Considerations
Despite injury concerns, Celtic will look to exploit Motherwell’s defensive vulnerabilities. The Hoops have scored an impressive 22 goals in their last five matches across all competitions.
Motherwell’s defense will need to be resilient to withstand Celtic’s attacking pressure. Stuart Kettlewell may opt for a more defensive-minded approach, utilizing a 4-5-1 formation to absorb Celtic’s attacks.
On the other hand, Celtic’s defense will face a stern test against Motherwell’s pacey attackers. The Hoops’ backline has conceded just six goals in their last eight matches, but will need to remain focused to secure all three points.
Head-to-Head Record
Celtic has dominated the head-to-head record against Motherwell in recent years, winning 12 of their last 15 meetings. However, Motherwell did secure a surprise 1-1 draw at Celtic Park last season.
Prediction
Given Celtic’s attacking prowess and Motherwell’s injury concerns, the Hoops are likely to emerge victorious. However, Stuart Kettlewell’s side has shown resilience at home and may cause problems for Celtic’s defense.
Final Score Prediction: Celtic 2-1 Motherwell
Conclusion
Sunday’s clash between Motherwell and Celtic promises to be an exciting matchup, with both sides eager to secure vital points in the Scottish Premiership. While injury concerns will impact both teams, Celtic’s depth and attacking quality make them favorites to take all three points.
Will Motherwell pull off a surprise upset, or will Celtic maintain their momentum at the top of the league table? Tune in this Sunday to find out.