Our prediction for this Scottish Premiership match:
Celtic
Match Time & Date:
07/10/2023
16:00
Prediction: 3-1
Kilmarnock
Celtic will be aiming to make amends for the Champions League loss to Lazio when they take on Kilmarnock in the Premier League round 8. The Hoops are leading the chase for the Premier League trophy, seven points clear of their bitter rivals Rangers, with the team eyeing their fifth consecutive league win. All Liel Abada, Stephen Welsh, Maik Nawrocki, Marco Tilio, and James McCarthy remain on the sidelines with injuries, while Honduras midfielder Luis Palma is pushing for a start following his find display against the Biancocelesti.
The visitors, on the other hand, failed to win the previous six games in all competitions and given their six-match losing run at Celtic Park in the national championship, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. Both Liam Donnelly and Ben Chrisene miss out with injuries, but there are no suspended players in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Joe Hart):
Joe Hart is an English goalkeeper who was born on 19 April, 1987. Following a three-year spell with Shrewsbury Town, Hart joined big-spending Manchester City in 2006. After ending his loan spell with with Birmingham City (2010), he returned to Man City and he has been playing for the Etihad Stadium outfit ever since.
Joe Hart earned his 63rd cap for England at the Euro 2016 finals, but he has yet to win a trophy at the major tournaments with the Three Lions. On the other hand, the 29-year-old goalkeeper has clinched two Premier League trophies with Manchester City (2011/2012, 2013/2014) and the FA Cup title in 2011.
Speaking of his individual honours, Joe Hart has won the Premier League Golden Glove award on four occasions (2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2014/2015). Hart made his England debut against Trinidad & Tobago on 1 June, 2008. It has to be noted that he managed to keep a clean sheet on his debut for the English national team.
Highlighted Team (Kilmarnock):
Founded on January 5, 1869, Kilmarnock are the oldest professional club in Scotland. The Killie welcome their opponents at Rugby Park, the stadium with the artificial turf. The venue, which was opened back in August 1899, can hold up to 17,889 people.
Kilmarnock won their first and only Scotland Premier League trophy in the 1964/65 season despite being level on points with Hearts at the end of the season. Fellow Ayrshire club Ayr United are considered the Killie’s bitterest rivals. The two teams have been facing each other in the Ayrshire derby since September 1910.
Dark blue is the dominant colour of the club’s home kit, while Kilmarnock footballers wear yellow and blues kit when playing on the travels. The Killie recorded their biggest win back in 1896, with the team beating Saltcoats Victoria 13-2 in the second round of the Scottish Qualifying Cup. The club suffered their biggest defeat in August 1938 as they were hammered by Celtic 9-1 in the Scottish League Division.
