Rangers vs Celtic: Old Firm Clash in Scottish League Cup Quarter-Final

Rangers and Celtic meet at Ibrox on Sunday for the first Old Firm of the season, with a place in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals up for grabs and very little margin for error on either side.

Last season ended with Celtic lifting both the Premiership and the Scottish Cup, edging a three-way title race and tightening their grip on Scottish football’s biggest prizes. Rangers watched that unfold, then ripped things up in the summer.

Derek McInnes arrived from Hearts to reset the club, only to be hit by a brutal early setback as Rangers crashed out of Europe. The pressure came fast. The questions came faster. Four straight league wins have steadied the ground beneath him, but this is different. Beat Celtic in a cup quarter-final at Ibrox and the noise around McInnes changes overnight.

Celtic have their own score to settle in this competition. Martin O’Neill’s side were stunned by St Mirren in last season’s League Cup, a result that still jars when you set it against their domestic double. They want that trophy back, and they know there are few better ways to send a message than winning at Ibrox, even in front of a one-sided crowd.

That crowd will be entirely home support. After the chaos that marred the last Old Firm at Ibrox, in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, the decision has been taken to bar away fans this time. No Celtic end. No split of colour. Just Rangers fans, and the weight that brings for the home team if things start to turn.

When and where

The Scottish League Cup quarter-final kicks off at Ibrox at 12pm BST on Sunday 13 September.

How to watch

The tie will be shown live on Premier Sports 1 and via the Premier Sports Player.

Team news

Rangers come into the game stripped of their captain and short of strikers. Lawrence Shankland has been ruled out for months with a hamstring tear, a major blow to McInnes’ plans and to Rangers’ cutting edge. Youssef Chermiti is also sidelined with a hamstring problem, while new signing Daisuke Yokota joins them in the treatment room with the same issue.

At left-back, Tuur Rommens is edging closer to a return, but this match comes too soon for him.

Celtic’s outlook is brighter. Record signing Kasper Hogh made his comeback in the 1-0 win at St Johnstone, adding a timely lift in attack. Kieran Tierney is nearing fitness and could be ready in time for the Old Firm, which would hand O’Neill a major boost on the flank and in the dressing room.

O’Neill shuffled his pack in midweek, giving goalkeeper Sam Johnstone a debut in place of Viljami Sinisalo. At the back, Cameron Carter-Vickers is expected to be available after sitting out entirely on Wednesday, restoring a key pillar to Celtic’s defence.

Predicted Rangers XI

Rangers XI: Pandur; Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, Penrice; Raskin, Devlin; Curtis, Kim, Gassama; Naderi

No away fans. A manager under scrutiny. A champion out to reclaim a lost trophy. For a September quarter-final, this feels a lot like a defining day.