da winzada777： Following the favourable results in midweek, there’s no doubt that a Celtic win at Aberdeen will have a massive bearing on the title ‘race’.
da casino： It’s not arrogant or blinkered to say that the Hoops will clinch their sixth successive title in the spring, Derek McInnes holds that view, but keeping command of the SPFL is vital.
A win will put Celtic ten points clear of Aberdeen but as recently as Tuesday the gap could have been a single point if the Dons had won at Hamilton.
Rodgers has never won a title before but from painful memory with Liverpool in 2013/14 he knows the fine margins that can tilt the balance one way or another.
Celtic’s schedule before the turn of the year is relentless with the three-week January break essential after an eight-game programme through December.
If Aberdeen can win today, the gap will be cut to a doable four points. Even with a game in hand McInnes and his players can take encouragement from that knowing that Celtic have three more Champions League nights to negotiate before the festive fixtures kick in.
After giving a number of squad players an outing at Ross County on Wednesday night, the big guns will be back in place at Pittodrie even though Borussia Monchengladbach is only three days away.
There are a few big decisions for Rodgers to make with Patrick Roberts making a strong claim for a starting role…
GK – CRAIG GORDON
Barring one kamikaze run out of his goalmouth on Wednesday, the former Hearts man looks close to returning to his best.
Four domestic clean sheets isn’t to be sniffed at, especially after the goal-a-game leaks at the start of the season.
This type of match should see him busier than usual but in terms of having his eye in, he demonstrated against Ross County that he is back in form.
RB – CRISTIAN GAMBOA
After pitching him in for a debut in the Nou Camp, Brendan Rodgers clearly has full confidence in his Deadline Day signing.
With a question marks over the fitness of Mikael Lustig, the Swede could be rested for this one to ensure his place against Gladbach on Tuesday.
Michael Gardyne provided a tough test on Wednesday night, and 90 minutes against the second best team in the country will do Gamboa the world of good.
CB – ERIK SVIATCHENKO
The Dane has emerged in recent weeks as the first choice defender after recovering from injury.
Game by game he is looking more comfortable and adaptable, and importantly he has the leadership qualities that managers expect from central defenders.
He knows all about the dangers that Aberdeen pose after an early appearance at Pittodrie last season, and he’ll enjoy the pressure and the challenge of dealing with the Dons’ attackers.
CB – JOZO SIMUNOVIC
It feels like his Celtic career finally got started last Sunday at Hampden Park when he was given the vote ahead of Kolo Toure.
The Croat never put a foot wrong, blocked a net-bound Jason Holt effort and sent through the long raking ball that Leigh Griffiths provided the winning goal from.
Rodgers spoke highly of Jozo after the match suggesting that the former Dinamo Zagreb man may just have edged ahead of Toure in his thoughts.
LB – KIERAN TIERNEY
Probably one of the easiest decisions for Rodgers to make – telling him that he was being rested at Ross County wouldn’t have been easy.
Tierney will know exactly what to expect from this match, it’ll be tough, it’ll be physical, a battle and he’ll revel in those circumstances.
Once the battles are won, the football can take over with KT likely to be bombing down the left wing at every opportunity.
CM – SCOTT BROWN
The skipper will come in for plenty of ‘treatment’ from the home fans but the Fifer loves his role as pantomime villain.
Even during his leaner periods playing at Pittodrie has often brought out the best in Brown, so with his exceptional form so far this season he’ll be determined to show the home fans how much it means to him to be captaining a team towards their sixth title.
A goal wouldn’t be a surprise.
CM – STUART ARMSTRONG
The former Dundee United man seems to have done enough this week to edge his way past Nir Bitton into a starting place.
Like Simonovic, Armstrong has been receiving plenty of public praise from his manager suggesting that he is ready for a run in the team.
Having fought his way in from the outside Armstrong will be determined to live up to the praise that his manager has heaped on him.
RM – JAMES FORREST
Forrest will have noted the performance of Patrick Roberts in midweek, but he knows that he has the total trust of his own manager.
Forrest had a great second half against Rangers at Hampden Park and will be looking for a repeat against far tougher defenders at Pittodrie.
Six months ago it looked like he might be moving out to a side like Aberdeen, but the change of manager at Celtic couldn’t have worked out better for all concerned.
CAM – TOM ROGIC
After a midweek break, Brendan Rodgers will be looking for a big performance from the attacking midfielder.
He came close to scoring a couple of times at Hampden Park but never enjoyed the break of the ball around goal.
Competition for places provides great motivation, and having forced his way into the team Rogic knows that he has to produce regularly or find himself out of favour.
LM – SCOTT SINCLAIR
After his bad luck around goal at Hampden Park he demonstrated that his eye for goal was as alert as ever by notching away to Ross County.
In midweek Rodgers commented on his fitness work, not normally a feature in wide players.
Sinclair has certainly hit the ground running, and the net, and will quickly realise the importance of this fixture from the moment he walks out the tunnel to be greeted by the away support.
ST – MOUSSA DEMBELE
What more can be said about the man of the moment? Would it be a surprise to find out that Real Madrid and Barcelona are sending scouts to watch the Celtic striker at Pittodrie?
Tuesday’s match in Monchengladbach is a more likely scouting mission but after goals at Hampden and Victoria Park, he’ll be keen to maintain his scoring run against Aberdeen.
The focus and attention will be on Dembele all afternoon, yet it’ll take something special from the home defence to keep him at bay.