One of Celtic’s most important games of the season

Livingston took the lead at Aberdeen midweek, before the home side scored twice and took the points.  That was Livi’s only goal in eight games, a run stretching back two months.  Since Celtic’s win at the Plastic Pasta Stadium in September, Livi have scored only three goals in 13 games.  I have no record of how many corner kicks they have won in that time, but it we don’t concede one tomorrow, the defence will surely keep a clean sheet.

What Livingston will concentrate on is defending – an objective they obsess with even in prosperous times.  Last weekend, Kilmarnock, fresh from a win over Celtic, were unable to break the Livi defence and were ultimately lucky to leave with a point (a penalty kick was not enough of a chance for Livingston to score a fourth in 13 games).

Brendan Rodgers has had a rare week to work with the squad and attempt to arrest a precipitous slide which has seen Celtic give up a healthy lead at the top of the table.  In more normal times, tomorrow’s game would be an opportunity to rest some and give a run out to fringe players.  Instead, this is one of Celtic’s most important games of the season and one of the biggest games in the rest of Brendan’s career.  Complaining about the squad after defeat to Hearts is one thing, but it will not wash if points are dropped to Livi.

I am confident that will not happen.  The players will sufficiently find their former equilibrium to get back on track.  It will be a relief when the points are safe, though.