Rangers vs Celtic: Talking points ahead of first Old Firm clash of season

Rangers host Celtic at Ibrox in Sunday's League Cup quarter-final; there will be no away fans after SPFL ruling; Celtic have won all six league games heading into the clash while Rangers have four consecutive Premiership wins after poor start

It is the first Old Firm clash of the season and there is a League Cup semi-final place at stake.

Rangers host Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday with a Scottish Premiership meeting across the city just seven days later, live on Sky Sports.

While the Hoops have won all six of their league games this season, Rangers have won their last four after a slow start.

There is far more than just bragging rights at stake on Sunday. Rangers have not won silverware since 2024 and Celtic will want to reclaim the only domestic trophy that eluded them last season.

The last time Derek McInnes came face-to-face with Martin O'Neill was in last season's Premiership title decider, when he suffered an agonising defeat in what would turn out to be his last match as Hearts head coach.

The 55-year-old is no stranger to high-pressure games and has come up against the Hoops 61 times as a manager, winning 10 of them.

He experienced victory in his only Old Firm appearance as a Gers player, but Sunday will be his first taste of the fixture in the dugout.

In contrast, O'Neill is well-versed in leading Celtic in one of the fiercest derbies in football and his record is respectable to say the least.

One of McInnes' decisions will likely be who starts up front in the absence of captain Lawrence Shankland and fellow striker Youssef Chermiti.

Ryan Naderi kept his place for their midweek win against St Mirren as a reward for scoring the winner vs Motherwell after coming on for the injured Shankland.

He played the full game, but it was substitute Bojan Miovski who netted the only goal. Could it bring the former Aberdeen striker into McInnes' starting line-up?

Kevin Kelsy made his first start since his £9m deadline day move from Portland Timbers and will also be in the manager's thoughts. He has yet to find the net in a Rangers top, so would the intensity of an Old Firm clash be the place for him to shine?

O'Neill made five changes for Celtic's midweek win at St Johnstone as he rested some key players ahead of Sunday's clash.