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Scottish League Cup | Final
Dec 8, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
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Frimpong (63')

Rangers vs. Celtic: Talking points ahead of the Old Firm League Cup final

:Headline: Rangers vs. Celtic: Talking points ahead of the Old Firm League Cup final: ID:382038: from db_amp
Celtic are chasing a 10th straight domestic title as Rangers look to end an eight-year trophy drought.

Scotland's first trophy of the season will be up for grabs on Sunday as Rangers and Celtic meet in the final of the Betfred Cup.

Here the PA news agency's Andy Newport takes a look at the talking points ahead of the Hampden showpiece.

Race for fitness

Both clubs have injury worries over key men ahead of their Hampden showdown. While Neil Lennon has declared Johnny Hayes, Boli Bolingoli and Mohamed Elyounoussi fit and available there is still some concern over striker Odsonne Edouard. Steven Gerrard, meanwhile, is uncertain about whether left-back Borna Barisic will be ready to play after the Croatia left-back was forced to take pain-killing injections to get him through recent clashes with Feyenoord and Hearts. On top of that, the Ibrox boss is also monitoring two other unnamed stars carrying knocks.

Feeling the pressure

It is eight years since Rangers last lifted a major trophy (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Celtic have re-written the record books with their incredible triple treble triumph and they can now stretch their benchmark run to victory in 10 straight domestic competitions if they come out on top this weekend. There will be strain on Lennon, who will not want his team to become the side who let that era of domination come to an end. But perhaps the pressure will weigh even heavier on the shoulders of the Light Blues. Seeing their bitter rivals chalk up trophy after trophy has been a nightmare experience for the Gers faithful and they will be desperate to finally end their long, eight-year wait for major honours.

Alfredo Morelos' derby drought

Rangers' top scorer is in the form of his life having blasted 25 goals already this season. His deadly finishing has helped take Gerrard's team to the verge of the Europa League's last 32 but while he has enjoyed some big occasions against continental opposition, his record in local skirmishes has been dire. The Colombian has featured in 10 clashes against Celtic so far but is still to break his derby duck. Gers could do with him opening his Old Firm account this weekend.

The kid is alright?

Celtic's Jeremie Frimpong has been a major hit since breaking into Neil Lennon's side (Ian Rutherford/PA)

Teenage right-back Jeremie Frimpong has been Celtic's surprise package this season. The 18-year-old was initially cast as one of the future when he arrived from Manchester City's academy in the summer, so much so he was not even included in the Hoops' European squad. But the £350,000 signing has quickly battled his way into Lennon's first-team, even keeping out the more experienced on-loan Stoke stopper Moritz Bauer. However, given his lack of Europa League exposure, Frimpong's defensive capabilities have barely been tested and the Parkhead boss may decide putting him up against Rangers' £7million winger Ryan Kent this weekend is probably not the best time to find out what he is made of.

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1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718
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