Old Firm Clash: Rangers vs Celtic in League Cup Quarter-Final
Rangers and Celtic collide in the first Old Firm of the season on Sunday, and the stakes are already sharp: a place in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals and an early psychological marker in a campaign still finding its shape.
A New Rangers Era Under Early Strain
Last season’s title race in Scotland crackled with tension, but when the dust settled it was Celtic who walked away with both the Premiership crown and the Scottish Cup. Rangers were left watching their greatest rivals complete a double, knowing something had to change.
Change came in the dugout. Derek McInnes arrived from Hearts tasked with resetting Rangers, restoring authority and, bluntly, stopping Celtic. His start has been anything but smooth. A European exit heaped pressure on him almost immediately, the kind that can sour a tenure before it even settles.
Since then, Rangers have steadied. Four straight Premiership wins have calmed the noise and given McInnes some breathing space. This, though, is different. Beat Celtic at Ibrox and reach a League Cup semi-final, and the mood around the club shifts from cautious to optimistic in an instant. Lose, and the questions about his direction resurface just as quickly.
Celtic Chasing Back What They Lost
On the other side, Martin O’Neill knows exactly what this competition means. Celtic’s grip on domestic trophies slipped slightly last season when they were stunned by St Mirren in the League Cup under Wilfried Nancy. For a club that measures itself in silverware, that defeat still stings.
This is their chance to reclaim the trophy and reassert a sense of domestic dominance. O’Neill’s side already carry the confidence of champions after last year’s double. Now they want the cup they let get away.
Ibrox Locked Down
The setting adds another layer. Ibrox. Noon. No away fans.
After the chaos that marred the last Old Firm at this ground in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, Rangers have shut the doors to visiting supporters. It will be a one-sided noise, a wall of blue, and a test of Celtic’s composure in one of the most hostile environments in British football.
When and Where to Watch
The Scottish League Cup quarter-final kicks off at 12pm BST on Sunday 13 September at Ibrox.
The match will be shown live on Premier Sports 1 and via the Premier Sports Player.
Team News: Injuries Bite at Rangers, Celtic Options Grow
Rangers head into this tie bruised by injuries in key areas. Captain Lawrence Shankland is out for months with a hamstring tear, a major blow both on the pitch and in the dressing room. Youssef Chermiti is also sidelined with a hamstring problem, stripping McInnes of another striker.
New signing Daisuke Yokota, brought in to add spark and depth, is similarly ruled out with a hamstring issue. At left-back, Tuur Rommens is edging closer to a return but will not be ready in time for Sunday.
McInnes is expected to go with:
Rangers XI: Pandur; Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, Penrice; Raskin, Devlin; Curtis, Kim, Gassama; Naderi
Celtic arrive with better news. Record signing Kasper Hogh returned from injury in the 1-0 win at St Johnstone, a timely boost to their attacking options. Kieran Tierney is nearing full fitness and could make it back in time for the Old Firm, adding experience and drive on the flank if O’Neill decides to risk him.
In midweek, O’Neill shuffled his pack. He handed a debut to goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, preferred over Viljami Sinisalo, and rested several regulars. Cameron Carter-Vickers, left out entirely on Wednesday, is expected to be available again, reinforcing the spine of the Celtic defence.
No away fans. A Rangers side patched up but on a winning run. A Celtic team chasing back a trophy they feel should never have left their grasp. For McInnes and O’Neill, this isn’t just a quarter-final; it’s an early verdict on where this season might be heading.
