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How Celtic could line up v Kilmarnock as Rodgers makes surprising decision

How Celtic could line up v Kilmarnock as Rodgers makes two changes

Looking to catch up with 2024/25 surprise package Aberdeen at the summit, Celtic take on Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership at Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon.

Only Aberdeen can match the Hoops’ unbeaten streak in the league, and they’ll be keen to preserve that record this weekend.

Since their 7-1 thumping at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Brendan Rodgers’ side are unbeaten in seven games across all competitions (W5, D2).

They sent shockwaves across Europe when they smashed Bundesliga side RB Leipzig 3-1 three days after hitting league title rivals Aberdeen for six in the Scottish League Cup.

Celtic’s most recent Premiership outing came against Dundee United, where goals from Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels gave Rodgers’ side a comfortable 2-0 victory.

It was the second of their ongoing four-match winning streak, and Rodgers will likely make a surprising selection decision looking to extend that run to five games in a row.

Sunday’s opponents have struggled for form this season, winning just three of their 11 games while also exiting the Europa League and the Europa Conference League in the early rounds.

With a fully fit squad, Rodgers has a wealth of options heading into the game and his side are overwhelming favourites to emerge from Rugby Park with three points in the bag.

Predicted XI

Rodgers has been handed a clean bill of health ahead of Sunday’s showdown, so the Northern Irish manager will likely name an unchanged line-up from the side that smashed Leipzig in midweek.

Kasper Schmeichel starts between the sticks with a defensive wall of Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Greg Taylor ahead of him.

Callum McGregor has been one of Celtic’s most consistent performers this season, and the experienced Scotsman should anchor the midfield, linking up with Engels and Reo Hatate in the middle of the park.

Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn bagged a brace against Leipzig and should retain his spot on the right wing, while Daizen Maeda lines up on the opposite flank.

Adam Idah will be pushing to lead the line, but that responsibility will likely fall on talisman Kyogo Furuhashi.

(4-3-3): Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Furuhashi, Maeda.

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