Rangers are on the brink of yet another disappointing season, having suffered consecutive defeats to Motherwell and Hearts, dampening their Premiership aspirations. However, the chance to upset Celtic in the final Old Firm derby ahead of Sunday’s match at Parkhead should provide extra motivation for Danny Rohl’s side.
While Celtic previously fell 1-3 to the Light Blues earlier this year, the return of Martin O’Neill has rejuvenated the team, with Celtic now pursuing a domestic double. The two other league encounters ended in draws, but the Hoops triumphed over their rivals twice in the Cup, once after extra time and another via penalties.
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Projected 4-2-3-1 Rangers Lineup Against Celtic
Defense
Jack Butland had a disappointing outing recently, conceding twice despite facing only 0.86 expected goals on target. He needs to elevate his performance level as his contract ends this month.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MARCH 01: Youssef Chermiti of Rangers nets the second goal during the William Hill Premiership clash between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on March 01, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Rangers received a welcome injury boost with Tuur Rommens making a second-half appearance against Hearts after a brief spell on the sidelines. The Belgian should return to the starting lineup, which would allow Dujon Sterling to move back to his favored right-back position. John Souttar is recovering from an injury, but the manager is likely to count on Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez in the core defense, irrespective of Souttar’s availability. While James Tavernier may be rested, the captain is expected to make an appearance in what could be his last Old Firm match.
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Midfield
Derek McInnes outmaneuvered Rohl with a 3-4-3 strategy. Rohl’s 4-3-3 was neutralized at Tyencastle, and with little left to lose, the German should revert to a more aggressive 4-2-2-2 setup to aim for a victory at Celtic Park. Nicolas Raskin and Tochi Chukwuani should anchor the midfield as the double pivot, although the manager might opt to substitute in the returning Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande later in the game.
Following a rare starting opportunity on the right flank, Andreas Skov Olsen struggled in his performance in Edinburgh and may be replaced by Djeidi Gassama, while Mikey Moore is likely to keep his place on the left. Additionally, Oliver Antman and Thelo Aasgaard could also be called upon from the bench to enhance the attacking threat.
Attack
Ryan Naderi made an unexpected early return from injury and appeared against Hearts; he might start alongside Youssef Chermiti upfront, though a deeper role in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation is likely. Bojan Miovski could step in for the young German to provide more attacking drive upfront.