Kilmarnock vs Celtic Match Analysis & Prediction
16/04/2023 2:00 pm
Celtic will be looking to take the next step towards retaining the Scottish Premiership tittle when they face Kilmarnock on Sunday afternoon.
At a time when the hosts are just three points above bottom place, the visitors sit 12 points clear at the top of the standings.
Kilmarnock will simply be looking to settle for survival in the Scottish Premiership at a time when the battle to avoid relegation could become a three-horse race.
Tenth-placed Kilmarnock are now four points adrift of St Johnstone, while just three points separate them from bottom-placed Dundee United, who won last weekend.
However, Derek McInnes will feel encouraged that seven points have been collected from five matches, their defeats coming at Rangers and Aberdeen.
That said, when Celtic visited Rugby Park back in August, they left with a 5-0 victory, and McInnes will no doubt take that into consideration on Sunday.
Although Celtic had won 22 of their 23 matches heading into last weekend, there was an acknowledgement that defeat to Rangers would re-open the title race.
However, coming through with a 3-2 victory over their Old Firm rivals has realistially ensured that the Hoops will retain the title weeks before the end of the season.
The gap to Rangers now stands at 12 points at a time when Celtic have won 27 of 29 matches in the Premiership this season, yet Ange Postecoglou will demand that his side maintain their relentlessly high standards.
While the Hoops have kept just one clean sheet in their last five league matches, their three-goal haul at Parkhead last weekend has moved them to within two goals of triple figures.
Reaching that milestone is a foregone conclusion, but Postecoglou will feel motivated to set as many records as possible to cement a legacy at the club.
Kilmarnock vs. Celtic Head to head
In the 102 previous meetings between these two teams across all competitions, Kilmarnock have claimed eight victories while Celtic have won 75, and they have drawn in 19. Celtic have scored 234 goals and conceded 63 in the process.
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13/12/2020Celtic2Kilmarnock0Premiership
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02/02/2021Kilmarnock0Celtic4Premiership
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14/08/2022Kilmarnock0Celtic5Premiership
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07/01/2023Celtic2Kilmarnock0Premiership
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14/01/2023Celtic2Kilmarnock0League Cup
Kilmarnock Team News
With Rory McKenzie serving the second game of his ban for a red card against Hearts, McInnes could opt to go with the same 3-5-1-1 formation which he utilised versus Aberdeen.
Kyle Vassell is a doubt after missing out through injury last time out, while Innes Cameron and Ben Chrisene are also out of contention.
Kilmarnock's Last 5 Matches
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04/03/2023Rangers3Kilmarnock1Premiership
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10/03/2023Inverness CT2Kilmarnock1FA Cup
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18/03/2023Kilmarnock1St Johnstone1Premiership
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01/04/2023Kilmarnock2Hearts1Premiership
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08/04/2023Aberdeen2Kilmarnock0Premiership
Celtic Team News
Postecoglou could name the same Celtic XI from the win over Rangers, with Tomoki Iwata an option to make just a second league start in midfield, but Aaron Mooy is more likely to get the nod.
While James McCarthy is ruled out through injury, the likes of Reo Hatate and Liel Abada both feature in the doubtful list.
Celtic's Last 5 Matches
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08/03/2023Celtic3Hearts1Premiership
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11/03/2023Hearts0Celtic3FA Cup
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18/03/2023Celtic3Hibernian1Premiership
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02/04/2023Ross County0Celtic2Premiership
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08/04/2023Celtic3Rangers2Premiership
Kilmarnock vs. Celtic: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Goals Over 2.5: Yes
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