Follow all the action live from Hampden Park as Rangers and Celtic meet in the final of the Scottish League Cup.
Celtic are aiming to secure their 11th successive domestic trophy, after completing their famous treble-treble last season, and have been boosted by Mohamed Elyounoussi being passed fit to start.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard is hoping to claim the first piece of silverware in his managerial career. The Old Firm rivals have already met once this season with Celtic coming out on top, however, the title race remains tightly contested with Rangers just two points adrift. Follow all the action live below:
4 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
An now Rangers have a free-kick after some fine work from Morelos up front. Goldson wins the header again but it drifts harmlessly wide. Gerrard will be delighted with how his team have started.
3 min: Rangers 0-0 Celtic
An electric start by Rangers. An early corner causes chaos in the box with Forster eventually pushing it wide. Goldson leaps highest second time around but his header soars wide.
KICK-OFF! The wait is over.
The noise is deafening as the players emerge from the tunnel and the smoke machines have cast a fog over the entire stadium. Here is a reminder of today’s line-ups:
Celtic: Forster, Frimpong, Jullien, Ajer, Hayes, Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Christie, Elyounoussi, Morgan.
The fans are in full voice at Hampden Park. We’re just minutes away from kick-off!
Neil Lennon has been speaking to BBC Scotland:
We’ve been going with Lewis Morgan for the past three games, it’s not going to change that much. Odsonne Edouard said yesterday he didn’t feel comfortable enough to start, but he can hopefully make an impact later in the game.
If we turn up and play we’ve got a chance. The wet pitch may suit us.Sometimes the quicker the pitch the better we play.
Alfredo Morelos boasts a spectacular scoring record at Rangers, netting 73 goals in 109 appearances. However, the Colombian is still yet to break his Old Firm derby duck…
Much of the speculation in the lead-up to today’s game centred around the fitness of Odsonne Edouard. The striker has been absent for the last three games and returns to the squad, but not the starting line-up. Neil Lennon has confirmed the forward will play a part in the second half.
Steven Gerrard is speaking to BT Sport ahead of the game:
We’ve got to defend well, especially their front-four. They’ve got good technical players and we’ve got to nullify those threats… We need to play the game, not the occasion.
Neil Lennon has warned his players to be ruthless to maintain their record-breaking 30-game unbeaten streak in the cups and not allow emotions or any refereeing decisions to interfere with their run.
“It’s important to try to take that out of it. Try to be the dominant team in all aspects of the game an then you don’t have to look at wrong decisions. You’ve got to take the referee out of it, you’ve got to keep your discipline and play as strongly as you can. People who say the run needs to end at some point? It doesn’t need to be this week. Not on the run we’re on, not the way we’re playing. Not with the significance or magnitude or the game, or the opposition. We don’t want to it to stop this Sunday, we want to keep it going for as long as we can.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has also been handed positive news with Borna Barisic starting for Rangers.
Mohamed Elyounoussi has been cleared to start in a boost to Neil Lennon’s side. Here is how they line-up:
Welcome to The Independent‘s live coverage of Celtic vs Rangers as the Old Firm rivals meet in the final of the Scottish League Cup.
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What time is kick-off?
The match starts at 3pm at Hampden Park on Sunday 8 December.
How can I watch it?
The final will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1, with coverage beginning at 1pm.
Line-ups
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Helander, Goldson, Barisic, Jack, Kamara, Arfield, Aribo, Kent, Morelos
Celtic: Forster, Frimpong, Ajer, Jullien, Hayes, Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Christie, Elyounoussi, Morgan
Team news
Rangers are waiting anxiously on the fitness of Jordan Jones and Borna Barisic.
Celtic are significantly hampered by injuries though with Jozo Simunovic, Scott Bain, Jonathan Hayes and Daniel Arzani all ruled out. Mohamed Elyounoussi, Jack Hendry, Hatem Elhamid and Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo are also doubts due to niggling injuries.
Odds
Rangers 23/10
Draw 7/4
Celtic 7/5
